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Zonda Winds Hit Mendoza, Morning Classes Continue

Officials warn a southerly frontal rotation will cause a sharp temperature drop with rain in the plains followed by heavy snow in the high mountains on Thursday.

Overview

  • The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional issued a yellow alert for Zonda across much of Mendoza after strong, dry gusts moved from the precordillera into the plains on Wednesday.
  • The Dirección General de Escuelas said morning classes were running normally and remains in permanent session with meteorological and security agencies to decide on afternoon and evening shifts.
  • Universidad Maza suspended in-person activities until midday as a precaution while residents in Gran Mendoza reported fallen trees and localized power outages.
  • Vialidad and Defensa Civil advised avoiding nonessential travel and urged drivers to take extreme precautions as forecasts show winds rotating southerly and rain reaching the llano late Wednesday into Thursday.
  • The Zonda is a föhn-type wind that brings rapid warming and dryness followed by a frontal inversion that often flips conditions to cooler, wetter weather and intense cordillera snow, which has kept the Paso Cristo Redentor closed.