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South America is shivering in the cold as Europe sizzles

While Europe and North America suffer through heatwaves, South America is experiencing a similar extreme weather event at the opposite end: a sudden freezing snap.

On Tuesday morning, residents of Buenos Aires bundled up in scarves and wore wooly hats as they sipped warm drinks while frost covered cars.

The temperatures in the city fell below zero. This is a rare occurrence, even during the winter in the Southern Hemisphere which is now underway and runs in opposition to the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere.

Juan Manuel Amnini wore a gray hat with a wool face cover to protect himself from the cold.

You can cover yourself with anything you have. "I'm like an onion, wearing layers upon layers of clothing."

Meanwhile, in Europe, Italy has banned outdoor work from certain areas while France closed schools and a part of the Eiffel tower. Spain has confirmed that it had its hottest ever June as a severe heatwave gripped Europe and triggered widespread health warnings. Authorities in Barcelona were investigating whether the death of an street sweeper at the weekend was due to heat.

Since late June, temperatures have consistently been high in the northern and central swaths of the United States.

There have been heat warnings issued in large areas. This is part of a pattern that has been linked to climate changes, with temperatures rising earlier and lasting for longer. The impact of asphalt and concrete in urban areas is amplified by their ability to absorb and radiate heat.

The cold snap in Argentina, as well as Chile and Uruguay's neighbors, led to snowfall in unexpected places. Chilly winds from Antarctica blew south. Residents said that many homes and offices weren't built to withstand these conditions.

Gael Larrosa, a student from Buenos Aires, said: "Right Now, I have a thermal under my clothes, a couple of trousers and another pair on top."

I have a hard time with cold. The cold here kills, and it kills. Reporting by TV, writing by Adam Jourdan. Cynthia Osterman is the editor.

(source: Reuters)