The Southern Hemisphere is grappling with unusually harsh winter weather. The Atacama Desert in Chile, known as the driest desert in the world, has experienced its first heavy snowfall in 10 years, and tragically, seven homeless people have frozen to death due to severe cold in Uruguay.
On June 27, local time, Chile, located in the Southern Hemisphere and experiencing its winter season, drew global attention due to unusual weather phenomena. Livecams from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory, a major radio telescope located in the northern Chilean Atacama Desert, captured astonishing scenes of the Atacama region covered in white snow. Occasional blizzards, mixed with sand and snowflakes, were also observed.
The ALMA observatory shared related photos on its official X (formerly Twitter) account with the caption, "Unbelievable, it's snowing in the driest desert in the world." ALMA added that this is the first time snow has been observed around the observatory, which is located at an altitude of approximately 5,000 meters, in about 10 years. The Chilean Meteorological Directorate had forecast heavy rain for northern regions such as Tarapacá and Antofagasta, but falling temperatures actually led to snow and ice. In particular, 59 residents isolated by accumulated snow in the San Pedro de Atacama area of Antofagasta were rescued with the help of authorities. The Atacama Desert is an extremely arid region with an average annual precipitation of less than 15mm, and this heavy snowfall is interpreted as a direct impact of climate change. While there are records of rare past snowfalls, this widespread and noticeable snow cover is considered highly unusual.
Meanwhile, in Uruguay, another South American country, tragic casualties have occurred due to severe cold with sub-zero wind chills. It has been confirmed that seven homeless people have died from exposure in June alone across various parts of the country, including the capital Montevideo. Amid intermittent sleet, Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi issued a warning, and local daily El Observador reported that the government is implementing support measures to protect vulnerable populations, including forcibly moving homeless individuals to shelters. Although Uruguay typically has a mild climate, the increasing frequency of unusual cold waves in recent years has intensified calls for urgent government action to assist socially vulnerable groups.
The heavy snowfall in Chile's Atacama Desert and the severe cold in Uruguay once again highlight the seriousness of the unusual weather phenomena occurring across the globe. The Southern Hemisphere's unprecedented winter weather clearly demonstrates that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a tangible reality.
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