A polar air mass originating from Antarctica brought record low temperatures to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay between June 30 and July 3, 2024, causing at least 15 deaths and prompting emergency shelter activation and gas supply restrictions across the region.
Chile recorded some of its coldest temperatures in history on June 30, as a polar wave brought subzero conditions from the Altiplano to Patagonia. The extreme cold led to closure of a key border crossing between Chile and Argentina starting on July 1 due to ice and snow accumulations.
Snow blanketed Chile’s Atacama Desert on June 26, 2025, disrupting transport and closing schools across Tarapacá, Antofagasta, and Atacama regions.
A rare tornado struck the southern Chilean city of Puerto Varas at approximately 15:30 LT on Sunday, May 25, 2025. The tornado caused significant damage to homes, vehicles, and infrastructure, left eight people injured, and thousands without power.
On June 25, 2024, two avalanches cut off two small towns and a ski center in Maipo Province, Chile, leaving dozens isolated.
More than 2 000 homes have been damaged and one person killed after heavy rains wreaked havoc across south and central Chile over the past couple of days. Bio Bio region is among the worst affected.
Chile’s capital, Santiago, has been experiencing record-low temperatures for several days, with minimum temperatures around 0 °C (32 °F). This cold spell has made May 2024 the coldest May since 1950, according to the Chilean meteorological agency. In some coastal regions and parts of Santiago, temperatures have dipped below freezing, a rare occurrence for this time of year.
A rare snowfall blanketed several parts of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, causing widespread power outages and prompting local authorities to issue safety guidelines. The last time it snowed in Santiago was in 2020, although much later in the season.
Officials have issued a Red alert for extreme heat in Chile’s Santiago Metropolitan Region, with temperatures expected to remain high through at least February 2, 2024.
Extreme weather events, including significant floods and wildfires, have wreaked havoc on Chile’s bee colonies, essential pollinators for the country’s vital avocado and almond crops. The events, described as the worst in a decade, have critically endangered a key component of the South American nation’s multi-billion-dollar food industry.
