Freeze grips nation as winter approaches
Santiago, Chile - Residents in Chile are battling the coldest May in more than 70 years, with temperatures set to plummet further as the country prepares for winter's arrival in June.
On Monday morning, Santiago's central area shivered at a chilly 11oC (52oF). The Chilean government activated a "Code Blue" weather alert this week to protect and assist those living on the streets. The alert level could be raised if conditions worsen.
Raul Cordero, a climatologist at the University of Santiago, said the prolonged and intense cold front is the strongest May experienced in the capital since 1950. He attributed the phenomenon to the collision of a cold southern polar front with a warm tropical front. Such collisions can trigger extreme weather events, including recent storms in Brazil that brought deadly floods, killing nearly 150 people.
Cordero said climate change and the El Niño and La Niña weather patterns are "culprits" behind the extreme weather events.
Experts advised residents to stay warm, particularly with the official start of winter in Chile less than two weeks away.