Buenos Aires – SABA:
Argentina is experiencing an unprecedented cold wave, with temperatures plummeting to record lows, resulting in at least nine deaths over the past ten days amid a growing homeless population, according to a specialized NGO.
The cold spell intensified this week, with temperatures dropping to -1.9°C (28.6°F) in Buenos Aires at dawn on Wednesday—the coldest recorded in 34 years, as reported by the National Meteorological Service.
In the greater metropolitan area, temperatures fell to -7.4°C (18.7°F) in El Palomar, marking the second-lowest reading since 1935 and the coldest in 58 years.
Earlier this week, snow blanketed several beaches, including Miramar, located 450 km (280 miles) from Buenos Aires—a phenomenon not seen in 12 years.
The small Patagonian town of Maquinchao, 1,400 km (870 miles) south of Buenos Aires with a population of 3,000, recorded temperatures between -12°C and -18°C (10.4°F to -0.4°F) in recent days. The area's all-time low remains -35°C (-31°F) in 1991.
The NGO Proyecto 7, which assists homeless populations, reported that nine people have died from cold exposure across Argentina in the ten days since winter began—a figure authorities have not confirmed due to lack of comprehensive official data.
Official figures show Buenos Aires had approximately 4,050 unhoused individuals in November 2024, a 23% increase from November 2023