MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Punta Arenas heat wave “not exceptional”

In spite of its intensity the heat wave experienced by Punta Arenas during most of last week was below historic record temperatures.

Jorge Avila Chief Meteorologist of Punta Arenas international airport revealed that the highest ever temperatures date back to January 1945 with a record 29 degrees Celsius.

Mr. Avila explained that this kind of phenomenon generally last three days before loosing intensity. However the 26,8 degrees Celsius of last weekend was a record for January 2004 since the highest was January 23, with 21,4 Celsius.

"It's hard to see the phenomenon repeating itself this season because in February temperatures begin dropping and March signals a big change in forecasts", said Mr. Avila who explained that a high pressures situation over the extreme south of Chile and gradually moving towards Argentina was the cause of the exceptionally high temperature.

From Santiago the Head of Chile's Meteorological Agency Climate Office, Jorge Carrasco explained that the floods in the north of the country and extreme hot temperatures in Magallanes Region "are not exceptional".

The flooding is caused by the heavy winter rainfall in the highlands of the heart of South America (Bolivia and southern Peru), "which is completely normal at this time of the year", explained Mr. Carrasco.

The heat wave in Punta Arenas was described as a cyclical phenomenon that happens every five to six years.

"Maximum temperatures in Punta Arenas range 25 Celsius. Anything above that is considered extreme, but we must remember that only three years ago the area experienced something similar", recalled Mr. Carrasco.

"Warm breezes replaced regular winds in Punta Arenas making locals feel the full impact of sunshine", added the Santiago meteorologist, who anticipated temperatures will very soon drop to below 20 Celsius.