THE ATMOSPHERE TODAY · EVENT← TODAY'S COVERwinter
Patagonia — the last polar wave before Spring Day
THE STORM
A fresh Antarctic push, three days before the calendar turns. Snow of 10 to 20 cm across Santa Cruz, minima near −10 °C, and yellow snow alerts over Patagonia, Cuyo and the centre — described by the national service as the last polar cold wave before Spring Day on Sep 21.
THE RECORD
13 turning points on record since Jul 6 — the 8 most recent shown.
Sep 17peak → active
Sep 16building → peak · became confirmed
Sep 15active → building
Sep 13▽ slipped down the board
Sep 12▽ slipped down the board
Sep 11↑ became confirmed
Sep 8building → active
Aug 28easing → building · became confirmed
WHO IT TOUCHES
Agricultureharvest and livestock decisions on five continents, a monsoon that means opposite things at each end of one country, and one release a grower can read off a timetable
Energycooling load rising in one hemisphere while heating load holds in the other, and a hydropower release running to a published plan
CONNECTED
The southern hemisphere's cold tap running in two places three days before spring — a fresh Antarctic push holding 10 to 20 cm on Santa Cruz with minima near minus 10 C, while a cut-off low puts Orange level 6 on the KwaZulu-Natal coast and snow on Matatiele and Elundini.