The Argentine electricity management company Cammesa recorded a peak in energy demand throughout the country due to high temperatures, leading to massive power outages in several provinces such as Córdoba, Santiago del Estero, Chaco, and Formosa.

The maximum consumption reached 28,584 megawatts of power at 2:40 p.m. After that peak, the system collapsed due to distribution failures in some provinces in the center and north of the country. Last month, the city of Rosario was hit with a widespread blackout for similar reasons during the first heatwave of the year.

Despite the surge, the number was still well below the record of electricity consumption recorded on a business day: 29,653 megawatts. That happened on February 1, 2024, at 2:48 p.m., with an average temperature of 31.5°C in Buenos Aires City.

The National Meteorological Service (SMN for its Spanish initials) issued alerts on Monday for high temperatures in different districts. Buenos Aires City and its suburbs have a yellow alert for extremely high temperatures, as well as areas of 15 other provinces: Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Misiones, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Formosa, Tucumán, Salta, Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, San Luis, and Mendoza.

An orange alert has been placed on some regions of San Juan, Catamarca, San Luis, Córdoba, and Buenos Aires. Meanwhile, in some regions of Mendoza, the warning was increased to a full red alert. 

The SMN also announced it expected lower temperatures on Tuesday, warning of a storm front in northern Buenos Aires province that could result in even more alerts, this time for heavy rain, strong wind, and hail.

The SMN’s advice is to drink plenty of water (even if you’re not thirsty), avoid the sun as much as possible (particularly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.), stay in ventilated areas, reduce physical exercise, and eat fruit and vegetables instead of hot meals. Make sure to keep an eye out for older adults and children, who are the most affected by high temperatures.

What each alert means

• Yellow Alert: a mild to moderate effect on health, according to the SMN system. Temperatures may be dangerous, especially for at-risk groups such as children, people over 65 years old, and those with chronic illnesses
• Orange alert: moderate to high effect on health, with temperatures deemed “very dangerous” for at-risk groups
• Red alert: temperatures could have high to extreme effects on everybody’s health

Cover photo by Mariano Fuchila

With reporting by Ambito Energy Report