Unusual winter storm batters chilean town with 30-degree heat and 60 km/h winds

An unusual winter weather system struck Iquique and Alto Hospicio in Chile's Tarapacá Region between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, combining warm temperatures, powerful winds, rain, and electrical storms in a rare atmospheric event.

Temperatures climbed to approximately 33 degrees Celsius during the overnight hours, well above typical winter conditions for the region. Winds reached near 60 kilometers per hour, with gusts strong enough to dislodge building structures. Intermittent drizzle and electrical storms accompanied the warm winds throughout the night.

The powerful gusts caused significant damage. A hotel roof in the Cavancha peninsula district detached and fell to the street at the intersection of Capitán Roberto Pérez and Filomena Valenzuela. Video footage captured by a nearby resident showed the structure vibrating forcefully before collapsing onto the roadway. Pedestrians in the area escaped without injury. The incident was one of multiple roof failures reported across the city as residents heard loud noises from loose elements on rooftops and rattling windows throughout affected neighborhoods.

Electrical service disruptions affected thousands of customers. The Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles reported 10,179 customers without power in Iquique after midnight Wednesday. An additional 1,226 customers lost service in Alto Hospicio, and 246 more in Huara. The utility company CGE stated that brigades were working to restore power across the coastal zone, which had been left without energy.

In response to the hazardous conditions, authorities suspended classes at educational establishments throughout Iquique, Alto Hospicio, Pisagua, and the entire coastal region of Tarapacá. The government decision cited roof damage and power outages as primary safety concerns.

The Dirección Meteorológica de Chile forecast that Wednesday would bring the most severe instability of the period, with electrical storms, rain, showers, dust storms, and strong winds expected from Arica to Atacama. In the mountain ranges of these regions, winds were projected to reach between 70 and 90 kilometers per hour over three days, accompanied by snow, blizzards, and sleet.

Residents shared numerous recordings on social media documenting the unusual conditions, with the combination of winter-season timing and summer-like temperatures generating widespread surprise across the region.