- Temperatures have dropped to -15° Celsius (5° Fahrenheit) in Chile and Argentina.
- Both countries ranked among the coldest places on Earth on 30 June.
- Early warnings and cold alerts were issued by the governments in response to the polar anticyclone.
- Natural gas distribution has been affected in Mar del Plata due to extreme cold.
- Remarkably, snowfall covered parts of the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth.,
Argentina and Chile Experience Severe Cold Snap
Temperatures have drastically decreased across lower South America, with some locations experiencing chilling lows of -15° Celsius (5° Fahrenheit), according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This extreme cold wave, caused by a unique polar cold front, has significantly affected Chile and Argentina. On 30 June, the conditions were so severe that both countries ranked among the coldest regions on Earth outside of polar territories.
Government Responses to Extreme Cold Weather
In response to these harsh conditions, both the Chilean and Argentine governments took proactive measures, issuing cold weather alerts and early warnings to residents. The polar-origin anticyclone causing this chilling weather has not only produced low temperatures but has also disrupted essential services, like heating, particularly in Argentina’s Mar del Plata. Local authorities implemented business closures to conserve natural gas supplies for residential heating, leading to schools and various public buildings shutting down as the cold wave took hold.
Unanticipated Weather Patterns and Consequences
As the polar chills continued to grip the region, remarkable and unusual weather phenomena unfolded. The cold snap that began on 26 June reached its peak on the 30th, but its extraordinary severity caught many off guard—record lows were reported throughout both countries. The WMO noted that even typically mild areas in Argentina experienced severe frost, and for the first time in over a decade, snow covered sections of the Atacama Desert, alongside unanticipated snowfall in Mar del Plata and Patagonia. As the impacts of the cold wave became evident, it raised alarms over potential crop damages and disrupted daily life in a region unaccustomed to such severe winter conditions, underscoring the broader societal and economic challenges these extremes may pose.
In summary, a polar cold wave has gripped Chile and Argentina, producing record low temperatures that have led to significant governmental responses and disruptions. With the cold snap drawing comparisons to the increasing impacts of climate change, both countries face challenges in managing natural gas supplies and the potential for agricultural damage. This unusual weather event vividly illustrates the unpredictable nature of climate phenomena, raising concerns about what lies ahead for the region and beyond.
