Extreme cold caused frost damage to fruit trees and winter crops in Chile and Argentina

The southern part of South America is recording the social and economic consequences of an extremely cold period that brought frost and lowered morning temperatures from Patagonia to the central regions of Chile and Argentina, reported the World Meteorological Organization. On June 30, Chile and Argentina were among the coldest places on Earth, excluding polar regions. This was due to the persistence of a powerful polar anticyclone that spread across parts of Paraguay and Uruguay, causing unusually low temperatures for the season. Although the Andean Mountains and Patagonia are not unfamiliar with cold temperatures during winter, the severity of this event was exceptional and affected even low-lying areas. Between June 26 and its peak on June 30, the cold air mass affected the southern part of the continent. According to reports from the Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC) and the Argentine National Meteorological Service (SMN), numerous meteorological stations set new ...