The Argentine Servicio Meteorológico Nacional issued a yellow alert for extreme cold affecting six provinces and Buenos Aires on Sunday, August 23, 2026, as a polar air mass drives temperatures down to -5°C in the south.
Winter tightened its grip across Argentina as a robust pulse of polar air swept through the southern and central regions. The National Meteorological Service (SMN) forecast widespread frosts and temperatures up to 12°C below normal for Cuyo and Patagonia this weekend, as part of a strong pulse of polar air that will affect the center and south of the country for 72 hours.
Provinces Under Yellow Alert for Extreme Cold
The warning system covers distinct territorial bands rather than entire provinces. According to the official report, in Mendoza, San Luis, and southern Córdoba, thermal marks will remain between 10 and 12°C below usual values, with frosts already being felt since they deepened this Saturday, in a new sign that the weather in Argentina continues with a winter of extreme lows.
According to information from the SMN, the provinces under alert are Buenos Aires, Santa Cruz, La Pampa, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, and Corrientes. In Buenos Aires, it covers the center, from east to west, as well as the north and northeast; in Santa Cruz, it comprises the mountain zone and the northwest. Various areas of La Pampa are also affected, mainly the center, from north to south, and the east; the south of Santa Fe; the south and east of Entre Ríos, from north to south; and the southeast of Corrientes.
The SMN warns that in the areas under alert, minimums may be near 0°C in the center of the country, while in the south they may be as low as -5°C.
Regional Temperature Contrasts and Cuyo Frosts
The entry of a cold air mass maintains a scenario of low temperatures in different points of Argentina this Sunday, August 23. In Mendoza, the mountain range (Punta de Vacas, Cristo Redentor pass) could drop below -10°C, with widespread frosts in valleys and foothills. In northern Patagonia, maximums will be single digits and in the south they will hardly exceed 5°C.
This Sunday, August 23, will have somewhat cloudy skies in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA), where a yellow alert for extreme cold is in effect. According to the report published by the National Meteorological Service (SMN), temperatures will range between a minimum of 7ºC and a maximum of 13ºC. At the close of the weekend, winds will blow at a speed of between 7 and 12 km/h, humidity will be around 60%, and there is no probability of precipitation. For Monday, August 24, a day with partially cloudy skies and thermal marks oscillating between 6ºC and 14ºC is expected. And on Tuesday the 25th, meanwhile, there will be a slight rise in temperatures: minimum of 8ºC and maximum of 14ºC. The sky will remain mostly cloudy.
Health Guidance and Safety Recommendations
According to the SMN, this level of alert implies the possibility that temperatures could be registered that the SMN indicated could be dangerous, particularly for at-risk groups such as children, individuals over 65 years of age, and those with chronic illnesses.
Faced with the yellow alert for extreme cold, the agency recommended:
- Avoid prolonged exposure to cold outdoors.
- Dress in several layers of light clothing instead of a single thick garment.
- Generate more body heat through movement (walking, standing up and sitting down, moving limbs, etc.).
- Keep the home heated safely.
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature.
- Drink plenty of fluids and avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- If you are affected by the cold, do not self-medicate, and consult a doctor or go to the nearest health center.
- If you have prescribed medication, keep the action plan updated.
- Do not smoke in enclosed environments.
- Pay special attention to children, pregnant women, and older adults.
