Polar wave: from Miramar to Salta, all the places where it snowed in Argentina

A historic polar wave is advancing over much of the country and has brought with it a phenomenon rarely seen in many regions: snow. According to the National Meteorological Service (SMN), 19 provinces are under alert for extreme cold, and in at least six of them, snow covered urban and rural landscapes that rarely experience it.

In Buenos Aires Province, the surprise reached the inland towns and the Atlantic coast. Olavarría, Sierra de la Ventana, Tornquist, and Tandil recorded lows of up to -4°C (24.8°F) and intermittent snowfall. However, it was in Mar del Plata, Chapadmalal, and Miramar where the scene was even more striking: southern neighborhoods such as El Marquesado and San Eduardo del Mar woke up under a layer of snow between two and three centimeters (0.8 and 1.2 inches) thick. The beaches, which are packed with tourists in summer, appeared covered in white, in an almost surreal contrast caused by the combination of humidity, polar air, and a cold core at altitude.

In the northwest of the country, snow also left its mark. In San Miguel de Tucumán, it snowed again after 15 years, with temperatures close to -4°C (24.8°F) in mountainous areas. In Salta, the snowfall amazed passengers on the Tren a las Nubes, who crossed the La Polvorilla Viaduct at more than 4,200 meters (13,780 feet) above sea level, surrounded by a completely white landscape. The images quickly went viral, also showing roads affected in the Los Andes department and areas near San Antonio de los Cobres.

Córdoba was another province affected by the cold front. In the capital and cities such as Villa María, Marcos Juárez, and Laboulaye, thermometers dropped to -5°C (23°F) and snow appeared in some areas. Residents quickly recorded the phenomenon and shared it on social media. In San Luis, the situation was similar: there was snowfall in the capital and in Villa Reynolds and Santa Rosa del Conlara, where the temperature reached -11.2°C (11.8°F), one of the lowest in the country.

In Mendoza, the Los Libertadores International Pass was closed due to intense and persistent snowfall that began during the early morning hours. Authorities from Argentina and Chile decided to restrict traffic for safety reasons.

Meanwhile, in the far south of the country, two mountaineers were rescued alive in Valle de Olum, Tierra del Fuego. Both were buried under the snow and were found thanks to a glove protruding from the surface. They were airlifted to the city to receive medical attention and are out of danger, although visibly shaken.

Can it snow in Buenos Aires?

Despite subzero temperatures and wind chills close to -9°C (15.8°F) recorded in areas of the Atlantic Coast this Tuesday, the City of Buenos Aires will not see snow, at least for now. Meteorologist Cindy Fernández explained that "there isn't enough moisture in the atmosphere" for the phenomenon to occur in the capital.

In contrast, snowfall is expected to continue in mountainous areas of Patagonia, where the influx of polar air keeps favorable conditions for new snowfalls in the coming days.