In the middle of winter
\nChilean meteorologist Cristobal Torres says the last time such high temperatures were recorded in Vicuna was more than 70 years ago
\nSANTIAGO
\nFar away from the extreme summer temperatures of the northern hemisphere, Southern Cone countries such as Chile and Argentina are also experiencing record heat, but in the middle of what is supposed to be their winter.
\nOn Tuesday, the mountain town of Vicuna in central Chile hit 37 degrees Celsius (almost 99 degrees Fahrenheit).
\n\u201cIt\u2019s been more than 70 years since a temperature like this was recorded\u201d in Vicuna, Chilean meteorologist Cristobal Torres told AFP.
\nUnusually high temperatures were also recorded 450 kilometers (280 miles) south in the capital Santiago: 24C (75F) on Wednesday, with similar levels forecast for Thursday and Friday.
\nMeanwhile in Buenos Aires, the temperature exceeded 30C (86F) on Tuesday, making it the highest August 1 temperature since record-keeping began, according to Argentina\u2019s National Meteorological Service. The average August temperature in Buenos Aires is usually between 18C (64F) and 9C (48F).
\nSeveral cities across Uruguay also recorded temperatures of 30C (86F) on Wednesday.
\n\u201cWhat we are experiencing is the combination of two phenomena: a global warming trend due to climate change plus the El Nino phenomenon,\u201d said Chile\u2019s Environment Minister Maisa Rojas, a climatologist.
\n\u201cWhen El Nino ends, the global weather situation should stop being so extreme,\u201d she said.
\nAn El Nino event is characterized by increased Pacific Ocean temperatures, causing rainfall, floods and avalanches in western South America, as well as heat waves.
\nSantiago, Buenos Aires and Montevideo are expected to return to normal temperatures in the coming days, but it is believed that similar heat waves will occur with increasing frequency.
\n\u201cIt is very likely that the heat record will be broken this year (in Santiago), and that is extraordinarily abnormal. Ten years ago we had two heat waves a year and now we are talking about nine,\u201d explained University of Santiago climatologist Raul Cordero.
\nOne of the most significant impacts of the warm weather is on snowpacks in the mountains, which are vital for the water supply in Chile\u2019s capital.
\n\u201cWinter heat waves have devastating effects on glaciers and snow,\u201d Cordero said.
\nRojas also warned about the effects of heat at the poles.
\n\u201cThe ice around the polar areas is at minimum levels,\u201d she said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
\n\u201cEspecially around Antarctica, where at this time of year sea ice grows to reach a maximum in September, it is at a historic minimum.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the middle of winter Chilean meteorologist Cristobal Torres says the last time such high temperatures were recorded in Vicuna was more than 70 years ago SANTIAGO Far away from the extreme summer temperatures of the northern hemisphere, Southern Cone countries such as Chile and Argentina are also experiencing record heat, but in the middle […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":346998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-346990","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n