The people of Chile are facing the coldest May in over 70 years, with temperatures expected to drop even further as the country prepares to enter winter starting in June.
Snow covering the hills in the capital Santiago, Chile on May 8, 2024 (Photo: AFP).
On the morning of May 16, temperatures in the central area of Santiago hovered around 11oC. This week, the Chilean government activated a “green code” – a low-level weather warning – to protect and support the homeless population. Depending on the situation, this warning level may need to be raised.
Climatologist Raul Cordero from the University of Santiago stated that this is the longest and strongest cold snap in May that Santiago has recorded since 1950. According to him, the cause of this phenomenon is due to the collision of cold air from the polar regions with warm tropical air. This collision can lead to extreme weather events, such as the recent storms in Brazil, which resulted in heavy rainfall and severe flooding, claiming nearly 150 lives.
Climatologist Cordero emphasized that climate change and the El Niño and La Niña weather phenomena are the “culprits” behind these extreme weather events.
Experts advise the public to take care of their health, especially as Chile is only two weeks away from officially entering winter.
