Santa Rosa Storm Comes Every Year to Argentina
Buenos Aires' Famous Annual Wind and Cold Rain Come in Late August
Sep 5, 2009
At the end of August 2009, Argentina's storm, the Santa Rosa, with its endearing local history, arrived to mark the end of the winter just like it always does. The rains come like they've never come before and the desire to believe in a deep, local myth is just all too inviting.
The History Behind the Santa Rosa Storm in Argentina
The Santa Rosa Storm gets its name from its point of origin. For as long as every Argentine can remember, this storm first begins in Santa Rosa in the south of the country and gradually sweeps its way across until it passes eastwards and reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Legend has it that this Argentine storm, that visits at the same time every year, takes the winter with it, leaving only months of glorious spring and summer weather behind.
The Climate Characteristics of the Santa Rosa Storm in Buenos Aires
The turn of events is always the same, or so the legend records. During late August in Buenos Aires, Argentines are blessed with a week of gorgeous, sunny, hot weather, well above the norm for the time of year. During this period, all locals can be heard saying, "Ah yes, it may be hot now, but it will get cold again soon. The Santa Rosa Storm is coming."
Then, just as predicted, in the final week of August and the first week of September, "Santa Rosa" arrives in the capital. The rains are heavy and impressive, the skies are dark and threatening and every porteño or experienced expat knows that once the storm clears, Buenos Aires will enjoy sweet sunshine again until the following April.
Is The Santa Rosa Storm a Scientific Fact? Does it Really Exist?
The answer to this question is not so easy to give. The storm does come and she does come on time. There's even a dictionary listing for the Argentine storm that gives an explanation of what it actually is. Another site, Powdermag.com, has an article by Jess McMillan (undated), "Las Lenas: Santa Rosa Showing Up?", which talks of other signs that show when the storm is coming, including the presence of condors flying overhead. All very myth-like and bed-time story in style, granted, but the last week of August 2009 had nothing but rain; really heavy rain. A page on the Argentina Government Site devoted to Argentine climate even makes a reference to the Santa Rosa and gives it a link to religion. Scroll down the page to the very bottom to see the text.
Living through the "Santa Rosa Storm Week" and coming out the other side into beautiful hot and sunny weather, makes it very difficult not to fall in love with this charming Argentine story and is enough to make anyone want to stay in Buenos Aires until next August, just to see whether "Santa Rosa" indeed comes back to end the winter yet again.
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