WMO says Chile, Argentina coldest places on Earth as polar anticyclone grips region
By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – World Meteorological Organization reported on Sunday that temperatures across lower South America have plummeted falling as low as 15° Celsius or 5° Fahrenheit in some places as a rare polar cold wave grips the region.
The report noted that on 30 June, both Chile and Argentina marked the coldest places on Earth outside the polar regions.
WMO said that governments in both countries issued early warnings and cold-weather alerts in response to the “polar-origin anticyclone” behind the extreme conditions.
In Mar del Plata, Argentina 380 kms (240 miles) south of Buenos Aires where winters are “cool” and temperatures seldom drop below freezing, the unusual cold snap has affected natural gas distribution, primarily used for heating.
Across much of central and southern Argentina, temperatures were 10°C to 15°C – 50°F to 59°F – below seasonal averages, WMO reported.
The cold spell began on 26 June and peaked on 30 June, bringing record lows to large parts of the continent, UN agency said.
WMO said in a news release that “Although the Andean mountains and Patagonia are no strangers to cold temperatures in winter, the severity of this event was exceptional and even affected low-lying areas”.
WMO reported that the high-pressure system brought atmospheric stability, resulting in clear skies and widespread severe frost.
In Chilean cities of Santiago, Rancagua and Talca, stagnant cold air led to a buildup of pollutants and deteriorating air quality.
National meteorological services in both Chile and Argentina reported record low temperatures at multiple weather stations.
The snow blanketed parts of the Atacama Desert the driest place on Earth for the first time in over a decade, it added.
Snow fell in unusual locations such as Mar del Plata, the Calamuchita Valley in Córdoba, and the hilly regions of northern Patagonia, WMO stated.
WMO noted that the concerns are growing over the broader societal and economic impacts of the extreme cold.
Farmers in central Chile and northern Patagonia have reported crop damage due to early frosts, threatening fruit and winter harvests.
The transport and schooling were disrupted in towns unaccustomed to such severe winter weather, it concluded.
