Can it snow in Buenos Aires amid the polar cold snap?

A significant polar cold wave is sweeping across Argentina, prompting residents in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area to wonder if snow might fall in the capital. Temperatures near freezing and the persistent presence of Antarctic air have fueled this speculation, recalling the historic snowfall on July 9, 2007, which was the first widespread snow in the city in nearly nine decades.

Meteorologists explain that snowfall in Buenos Aires requires a specific combination of low temperatures, atmospheric humidity, and precipitation occurring simultaneously with the influx of cold air. This rare alignment of factors made the 2007 event exceptional. Currently, the National Meteorological Service forecasts a minimum temperature of 1°C and a maximum of 9°C for the city, with mostly cloudy skies but no predicted rain, significantly reducing the chances of snow.

While the capital is unlikely to see snow, the cold air mass is expected to bring different conditions to other regions. The southwest and central parts of Buenos Aires province may experience snowfall, with accumulations of up to three centimeters in some areas. Images and videos of snow have already begun circulating from various towns in the province. Further south, Patagonia faces even more extreme conditions, with temperatures potentially dropping to -9°C in parts of Chubut and Río Negro.