Antarctic air mass brings snow and wind to Argentine Patagonia

An Antarctic air mass is moving toward the Argentine Patagonia, bringing an extremely cold weekend characterized by strong winds, mixed precipitation, and snowfall across the mountain and steppe regions.

A low-pressure system that moved toward the Chubut coast on September 2 has triggered a cold front extending northward. This has already caused rain and sleet in the Rionegrino mountains, southern Neuquén, and Chubut, with the heaviest snow expected in central and northwestern Neuquén.

Meteorologist Enzo Campetella of Meteored reports that the frigid air will dominate the southern part of the country starting September 3. A second polar front from Antarctic latitudes is expected to increase pressure gradients, causing wind gusts exceeding 70 km/h in Tierra del Fuego and southern Santa Cruz. In some areas, such as west of Zapala, gusts may exceed 80 km/h. Southern cities like Ushuaia and Río Grande are expected to see maximum temperatures of only 2 °C.