Polar Air Mass Brings Extreme Cold and Frost Across Southern South America

A polar air mass has triggered a significant drop in temperatures across several regions of South America, causing frost and sub zero temperatures in southern Brazil and extreme cold alerts in Argentina. In the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, temperatures plummeted to -7.7 degrees Celsius in Bom Jardim da Serra on Sunday, June 23. Other Santa Catarina municipalities including Urupema, Sao Joaquim, and Lages also recorded negative temperatures. The Santa Catarina Civil Defense issued alerts for thermal discomfort and hypothermia, noting that the cold would persist through Monday before weakening on Tuesday. The polar air also affected other areas of Brazil, with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius in parts of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, and reaching as low as 10 degrees Celsius in Mato Grosso do Sul. In some Mato Grosso do Sul cities, a high thermal variation was noted, with temperatures rising from 13 degrees Celsius in the morning to over 30 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. Meanwhile, the National Meteorological Service in Argentina issued a yellow alert for extreme cold covering the City of Buenos Aires and five provinces. In the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, the thermal sensation reached 3.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning. Authorities in Argentina recommended using multiple layers of clothing and cautioned against carbon monoxide poisoning from heating appliances.