Temperatures in the City of Buenos Aires today reached 35.2° Celsius, breaking an historical record for the month of October as a heat wave descended on most of Argentina in the last few days.
In a day marked by scorching weather conditions, the heat index for the capital closed in on 40°C. The National Meterological Service (SMN) confirmed that at 4pm the temperature reached 35.2°C, surpassing the previous benchmark of 34.5°C recorded in October 2009.
Intense winds, however, began to lower the mercury later in the afternoon, with the heat index plummetting 8° in just a handful of minutes, as the SMN put in place a weather alert for severe storms in the south-east of Buenos Aires province.
In a weekend hit by unseasonably elevated temperatures, it was reported that a 60-year-old man passed away in Santiago del Estero with heatstroke believed to be responsible. The individual collapsed in a local plaza while on the way to see Central Córdoba play, and today the northern city saw temperatures of 44°C while in nearby Termas de Río Hondo the thermostat reached 45°C.
Santa Fe capital, meanwhile, recorded a heat index of 48°C in a sweltering start to the week, while other highs were registered in Tucumán, with temperatures reaching over 40°C.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald