By: Sean Breslin
Published: September 1,2013
The Southern Hemisphere is just weeks away from a winter-to-spring
transition, but in southern Peru, a heavy snowstorm has killed 6 people
and more than 30,000 domestic animals including sheep, llamas and
alpacas.
Peru declared a state of emergency through Sept. 20 for its southern mountains, where most of the animal deaths occurred.
Approximately 12,000 families are stranded after at least three feet of snow fell in the city of Puno's Carabaya province, according to Peru This Week.
With food and medicine running short in the snow- and ice-covered areas, the government made air deliveries of necessary supplies, reports the Wall Street Journal. At least one person has died and many others have suffered damage to their homes due to the heavy snowfall.
"Temperatures typically tumble below freezing at this high elevation this time of year (late winter)," said weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman. "However, precipitation is typically sparse in late-August in southeast Peru, so picking up over an inch of snow can make travel difficult in this high terrain."
The heavy snowfall has been devastating to livestock as well. According to a Reuters video, more than 250,000 alpacas have died, unable to find food in the bleak conditions. Other animals have died from being trapped under blizzard conditions.
A state of emergency has been declared for much of the region, located in the Andes mountains.
Recently, winter weather has left other parts of South America blanketed with snow. The Atacama Desert, which can go decades without precipitation, got a special surprise.
"Just a few days ago, a rare snowfall coated parts of the Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest places on Earth," said Erdman.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Peru declared a state of emergency through Sept. 20 for its southern mountains, where most of the animal deaths occurred.
Approximately 12,000 families are stranded after at least three feet of snow fell in the city of Puno's Carabaya province, according to Peru This Week.
With food and medicine running short in the snow- and ice-covered areas, the government made air deliveries of necessary supplies, reports the Wall Street Journal. At least one person has died and many others have suffered damage to their homes due to the heavy snowfall.
"Temperatures typically tumble below freezing at this high elevation this time of year (late winter)," said weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman. "However, precipitation is typically sparse in late-August in southeast Peru, so picking up over an inch of snow can make travel difficult in this high terrain."
The heavy snowfall has been devastating to livestock as well. According to a Reuters video, more than 250,000 alpacas have died, unable to find food in the bleak conditions. Other animals have died from being trapped under blizzard conditions.
A state of emergency has been declared for much of the region, located in the Andes mountains.
Recently, winter weather has left other parts of South America blanketed with snow. The Atacama Desert, which can go decades without precipitation, got a special surprise.
"Just a few days ago, a rare snowfall coated parts of the Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest places on Earth," said Erdman.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
MORE: The Leaden Winter of Lima, Peru
In this July 27, 2013 photo, a couple plays at the waterfront promenade in Lima, Peru. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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