Rio Colorado hit by frost at the height of summer, Argentina

An early frost hit Rio Colorado, Argentina last week at the height of the summer, seriously affecting agricultural production of the region.

The unusual event was recorded on February 26, 2019, when a local weather station registered below freezing temperatures that reached -1.1 °C (30 °F) in parts of the productive area and -2.0 °C (28.4 °F) in other areas. The low temperatures also surprised some localities south of La Pampa, where temperatures of -3.8 °C (25.1 °F) were recorded.

The frost lasted 4 hours, causing direct damage pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, melons, watermelons and other vegetable crops to a lesser extent.

Agronomist Pilar Muniz said frost at this time is unusual. No one expected it and so producers were not prepared against it. 

"In this sector, we expect the first frosts at the end of March, early April, but not at this time," Muniz said.

"Hours before the phenomenon, a producer contacted us to let us know they expected to have a good squash harvest, but the picture changed the next day when he saw that much of his production had turned black because of the cold. That means he'll have an important loss," she added.

Featured image credit: ADNSUR