An unprecedented cold wave has been hitting Argentina and Chile, bringing with it extreme cold that has put 15 Argentine provinces and several Chilean regions on alert.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) has issued warnings due to freezing temperatures, which have dropped below normal levels in more than half of Argentina, affecting both daily life and the health of the population.
Impact in Argentina
This is what a waterfall in Patagonia, Argentina, looked like due to extremely low temperatures, which reached -20°C, and even lower in Río Turbio, Santa Cruz (Photo by author: Miguel Gonzalez independent journalism)
In Argentina, the weekend began with a significant drop in temperatures, with snowfall in atypical areas such as the area around Mar del Plata in the province of Buenos Aires.
These low temperatures pose a significant risk to vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
Patagonia, one of the most affected regions, has witnessed heavy snowfall that blocked the main access roads, particularly in Chubut, where dozens of vehicles were stranded between Trelew and Comodoro Rivadavia.
Although the situation improved slightly on Friday, the southeastern region of Santa Cruz remains under yellow alert, while the mountainous and northwestern areas of the province are under red alert due to extreme temperatures that can affect the health of the entire population.
The polar wave nNot only has the air frozen, but also the sea. In Tierra del Fuego, near San Sebastian, the waves of the sea have turned into ice, a rare phenomenon caused by low temperatures, which reached -15°C early last week, making Patagonia the coldest region on Earth according to climatologist Raúl Cordero Carrasco of the University of Santiago de Chile.
Situation in Chile
Chile is also facing the consequences of this wave of extreme cold. The Cristo Redentor International Pass in Mendoza has been closed due to heavy snowfall and temperatures of up to -3°C, leaving around two thousand trucks stranded for 18 days. Unfortunately, two drivers (one Brazilian and one Chilean) died due to the extreme conditions.
The Chilean winter is advancing in full force, and Ski Portillo has received more than 570 centimeters of snow this season, exceeding its seasonal average and has not been able to open until this Saturday, June 29 due to a winter storm.
This situation has led to the closure of roads between Santiago and Mendoza, further complicating transport and logistics in the region.
Outlook and forecasts
The SMN expects the cold wave to continue affecting both countries, with more snowfall, rain and strong winds in the coming weeks.
Last week winter began in the southern hemisphere, just those days there was heavy snowfall in Patagonia, in this…
Published by Statistics, graphs and bizarre maps in Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Extreme weather conditions have not only marked one of the harshest winters in years, but have also set new records for low temperatures, with this past May being the coldest in 63 years for several Argentine provinces.