High temperatures that rival Northern Hemisphere summer temperatures have been observed in South American countries such as Chile and Argentina, which are currently in winter.
In Chile, temperatures in the central mountain cities of Vicuña and Chiguinto soared to 38.7 degrees over the past day local time, setting a new August high temperature record. Normal temperatures in the region range from 22 to 25 degrees.
Argentina’s capital city of Buenos Aires, which has an average August temperature of 14 degrees, also recorded a record high of 30.1 degrees over the past day.
In the coastal city of Rivadavia, Argentina, daytime temperatures reached 37.2 degrees.
Paraguay also saw an unusual high of 37 degrees earlier this week.
Higher elevations in the Andes Mountains also recorded extreme high temperatures of over 38 degrees over the past day.
Elsewhere, parts of Brazil have recorded temperatures above 30 degrees since the middle of last month, and Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay have set new July temperature records.
The Washington Post explained that a powerful ridge of high pressure centered over Paraguay in South America has formed a “heat dome” that is causing the unusual heat wave in the middle of winter.
“What we are experiencing is a combination of global warming due to climate change and the El Niño phenomenon,” said Chilean Environment Minister Meisa Rojas, a climatologist.
The Washington Post reports that the high pressure system is expected to continue to cause winter high temperatures in South America at least through the end of the week, 먹튀검증토토사이트 and that even if temperatures return to normal soon, these winter heatwaves could become more frequent.