A sharp temperature drop catches Chileans off guard, with the country experiencing its chilliest autumn in 74 years due to a rare cold front.

A sudden and unexpected cold front has gripped South America, bringing Chile its coldest May in over 70 years. The drastic shift in weather, occurring just days after sunny temperatures saw Chileans lounging in T-shirts, has left many scrambling to bundle up against the biting cold.

This unusually early cold snap has caused temperatures to plummet along Chile’s coast and in the capital, Santiago, where records have been broken. With temperatures nearing freezing, May 2023 marks the coldest the country has experienced since 1950, according to Chile’s meteorological agency.

Meteorologists explain that an unusual series of polar air masses has swept across the southern parts of the continent, pushing temperatures below zero degrees Celsius (32°F) in some areas. This sudden shift is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events, which experts believe are being exacerbated by climate change.

Raul Cordero, a climatologist at Santiago University, commented, “This is one of the longest cold fronts ever recorded and also one of the earliest before winter begins in the Southern Hemisphere. Typically, cold air incursions from Antarctica don’t occur until June.”

This chilly front, which originated from Antarctica, collided with warm air from the north, causing severe rainstorms in Brazil. The heavy rains have further compounded the weather situation, with flooding affecting several regions of the country.

In response to the unexpected cold, the Chilean government issued weather alerts and stepped up support for homeless individuals who are struggling to survive the harsh conditions. The snow-capped peaks of the Andes and snowfalls in parts of Santiago have caused power outages throughout the week.

Street vendor Mercedes Aguayo, who sells gloves and hats in Santiago, noted the sudden spike in demand for winter clothing. “Winter came early,” she said. “I’m happy for the boost in business after last year’s record heatwave.”

This cold front also caught Argentina and Paraguay off guard, with energy demand soaring across Argentina. To prevent shortages, gas distributors in multiple provinces had to cut supplies to certain industries and gas stations.