The Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC) issued an alert for extreme maximum temperatures for this week between the regions of Maule and Los Ríos, since in some cases they will exceed 37° degrees, above the average for this time of year.
Specifically, high temperatures will affect the following areas: Maule (Cordillera Costa, Valle, Precordillera), Ñuble (Cordillera Costa, Valle, Precordillera), Biobío (Cordillera Costa, Valle, Precordillera), La Araucanía (Valley, Precordillera) and also Los Ríos (Litoral). In the latter, maximum temperatures between 30° and 32° are expected.
From the DMC – dependent on the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics – they explained that this extreme high temperature event develops due to a low pressure center off the coast of the central area of the country that has cyclonic circulation, that is, the air It circulates clockwise where, in its northern part, the flow is from the northwest and in its southern part, the flow is from the southeast or east. In this case, the wind descends from the Andes Mountains and warms up as it moves through the valleys of the central-southern area of Chile.
The Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas, commented that “these extreme events have always existed, but with climate change the frequency, intensity and also the duration change (…) These conditions are conducive to the development of forest fires,” said the Secretary of state.
“If we average the last 12 months, the planet has warmed 1.5° degrees, which makes high temperature events more intense. Let us remember that, at a global level, 2024 was the warmest January since there are records,” stressed the head of the Environment.
The minister also recalled that one of the tools that our country has is the Climate Change Law. “Since 2022, Chile has had the Climate Change Framework Law which, for example, implies the preparation of Regional and Communal Climate Change Plans, which aim to address the adverse effects of climate change precisely from a local perspective.”
January with record temperatures
The person in charge of the DMC’s Climate Services Office, Catalina Cortés, pointed out that the month of January was the second warmest January since 1950 in Santiago. Record temperatures for the month also occurred in Curicó, Chillán or Valdivia.
The professional explained that, in addition to extremely hot days in much of the country, “the nights have also had higher temperatures than normal. So far this year, Antofagasta, for example, has 29 warm nights, Rancagua 17 warm nights, Curicó 14 warm nights and Concepción, Los Ángeles and Santiago reach 12”.
He added that the El Niño Phenomenon is present – which has influenced the warm condition -, which would continue until autumn, so there is a high probability of continuing to register high temperatures during February and the coming months.
In fact, according to the most current seasonal forecast for the February-March-April quarter, there will be below-normal rains from the Valparaíso Region to the Magallanes Region. Likewise, minimum temperatures would show a tendency to be higher than normal in the north; between Maule and Los Lagos; and in Aysén. Higher than normal maximum temperatures are forecast in most parts of the country.
Given this scenario, Minister Maisa Rojas emphasized that it is essential that people redouble their efforts to prevent forest fires, given that the conditions will exist for these events to be more severe.
- Citizen advice to prevent forest fires
- Do not light bonfires or manipulate heat sources in areas close to vegetation.
- Keep the surroundings of homes clear of vegetation and debris that can burn.
- Do not leave items such as matches, lighters or fuel within the reach of girls and boys that they can manipulate.
- Take extreme measures when working in open spaces with materials or electrical equipment that generate sparks such as chainsaws, welders, cookie cutters or electric saws.
- Verify that the power lines are not in contact with the vegetation and if they are, contact the electrical company.