File:Snow in Argentina (MODIS 2024-07-13).jpg

English: True Color Image False Color Image

A severe cold snap brought heavy snow and frigid temperatures to much of southern Argentina in early July 2024.

Temperatures were said to have dipped as low as -24.4°C (-12°F) in Tierra del Fuego province, which lies near the southern tip of the country. This deep freeze caused ocean waves coming into beaches to solidify, creating a dramatic image of ice-waves just offshore, according to videos circulating on various social media platforms. It was also reported that the north-eastern city of Gualeguaychú hit a record-breaking low temperature of -7.6 °C (18.3 °F) on July 9.

As temperatures dropped to 25°C (-13°F) in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, layers of snow fell, covering not only the peaks of the Andes but also prime pastureland. Merco Press (South Atlantic News Agency) reported on July 2 that heavy snowfalls had covered livestock with up to 60 cm (23 inches) of snow, placing about 1 million sheep in danger of starvation or freezing. Earlier snowfall created a slick crust over much of the pastureland, while the new snow made it difficult for sheep to move around.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image (bands 4,3,1) of Santa Cruz, Argentina, blanketed with snow and cloud on June 9, 2024. The entire region appears white, except for a few glacial lakes in the Andes Mountains which remain ice-free and look blue. The same image was also processed as a false-color image (bands 7,2,1), which can be viewed by clicking on "False Color Image". This band combination helps separate snow, which looks electric blue, from clouds, which appear white or may be very lightly tinted electric blue. In addition, vegetation is bright green and open land is colored in tan tones. At times, false-color images can give more relevant detail than simple true-color images.