Residents of Bariloche experienced a wind-chill of -16°C during a period of extreme cold and snowfall in June 2024 [1].
These temperatures create significant public health risks in the region. The severity of the cold increases the likelihood of hypothermia for the local population and visitors in the Patagonian highlands.
The extreme weather occurred between June 24 and June 30, 2024 [2]. According to the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN), the conditions were driven by a strong high-pressure system that pushed cold air from the south while generating intense northerly winds [2].
"La sensación térmica en Bariloche llegó a los -16 °C, lo que genera riesgos de hipotermia para la población," said María Pérez, a meteorologist with the SMN [1].
The high-pressure system brought a period of atmospheric stability that intensified the severe frosts across much of Patagonia [2]. Forecasters said that this stability and the accompanying cold would persist until mid-week, lasting approximately three days [2].
Bariloche, located in the province of Río Negro, is frequently subject to winter volatility, but the combination of heavy snow and a -16°C wind-chill represents a severe weather event for the area [1]. The SMN monitored the situation as the region faced the peak of its winter season, a time when the intersection of high winds and plummeting temperatures often creates the most hazardous conditions for residents.
“The sensación térmica in Bariloche reached -16°C.”
This event underscores the volatility of the Patagonian climate, where high-pressure systems can trap frigid air and create dangerous wind-chill factors. When temperatures drop to -16°C, the risk of hypothermia becomes a critical public health concern, requiring coordinated responses from meteorological services and local government to protect vulnerable populations.
