South America is grappling with an unprecedented energy crisis as record-breaking cold temperatures have forced governments to ration gas supplies and activate emergency protocols across Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.

The extreme weather event, driven by an Antarctic air mass that has swept across the continent, has claimed at least 15 lives and exposed the vulnerability of regional infrastructure to climate extremes.

Argentina's energy grid buckled under exceptional demand, with authorities suspending gas supplies to industries and compressed natural gas (CNG) stations on July 2 to preserve household heating. The government subsequently lifted price controls on gas cylinders as the crisis deepened, then moved to fully deregulate the liquefied petroleum gas market through Decree 446/2025 on July 3.

Buenos Aires recorded its coldest temperature since 1991 at -1.9°C, whilst areas on the capital's outskirts plummeted to -7.4°C in El Palomar - the second-coldest reading since 1935. The unusual demand for electricity caused widespread power cuts, leaving thousands without electricity for over 24 hours. According to Ambito, gas cylinder sales have surged 30% compared to last winter, whilst CNG stations across the country have run out of fuel, creating problems for vehicles powered by compressed natural gas.

The human cost has been particularly stark amongst vulnerable populations. Project 7, an NGO assisting homeless individuals, reported nine deaths from exposure in Argentina alone, including a 67-year-old man found dead at a garage entrance in Mar del Plata where neighbours had regularly provided assistance, DW reported.

Additional fatalities occurred in Paraná, where a man was discovered dead on a park bench, and in Catamarca, where a baby was found in a rubbish dump, presumably deceased from hypothermia.

Uruguay declared a nationwide "red alert" following six deaths, granting President Yamandu Orsi's government powers to forcibly relocate homeless individuals to shelters. Montevideo registered its lowest maximum temperature since 1967 at 5.8°C on June 30.

"July 2 was Uruguay's coldest day in the last 20 years," meteorologist Nubel Cisneros told El Observador. "Temperatures were around -7 and -8°C in the northern part of the country."

The meteorological phenomenon has created unusual scenes across the region. Snow fell in Mar del Plata for the first time in 34 years, whilst parts of the Atacama Desert - the world's driest region - experienced snowfall for the first time in over a decade.

Transportation and schooling were disrupted in cities unaccustomed to such conditions, with schools and public buildings remaining closed to conserve energy supplies. In Argentina's Mar del Plata, classes and municipal activities were suspended due to gas shortages, whilst the unusual cold snap has affected the distribution of natural gas used primarily for heating.

The World Meteorological Organisation reported that temperatures dropped dramatically across lower South America, reaching -15° Celsius in some places. On June 30, both Chile and Argentina ranked among the coldest locations on Earth outside polar regions.

The governments of both countries issued early warnings and cold alerts in response to what the WMO described as a "polar-derived anticyclone" driving the extreme conditions.

Air quality deteriorated significantly in Chilean cities including Santiago, Rancagua and Talca, where stagnant cold air caused the accumulation of pollutants and deteriorated air quality. Chile activated homeless shelter protocols as temperatures in Chillan dropped to -9.3°C.

Meanwhile, agricultural sectors face mounting concerns as farmers in central Chile and northern Patagonia report crop damage from early frosts, threatening fruit crops and winter harvests. The economic implications extend beyond immediate energy costs to potential food supply disruptions.

"What happened this week in Chile and the Southern Cone in general is a cold wave caused by an escape of a polar air mass from Antarctica," climatologist Raul Cordero from the University of Santiago told AFP.

The extreme cold has raised questions about climate change's role in such weather events. "It is not so common for these cold air masses to extend so far north, so we cannot rule out that this is also caused by climate change," meteorologist Arnaldo Zuniga told AFP.

A respite is expected in the coming days as temperatures slowly warm up. But the dramatic swing has caught residents off guard, causing nationwide disruptions across services and industries.

The temperature volatility reflects broader climate patterns that have seen extreme weather become increasingly common. Climatologists argue that heatwaves have become more frequent than cold spells in recent years.

The contrast between South America's arctic conditions and scorching temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in Europe, underscores the global nature of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, which climate experts widely attribute to human-induced climate change.