Marek Kučera 
An exceptional cold spell has gripped parts of Bolivia, with the capital La Paz registering a freezing minimum temperature of -8.5°C on June 12th 2025. This is an extraordinary value for the city, which sits at over 3,600 meters above sea level, but still does not often plunge this low in June.
What makes this event even more notable is that this temperature is just 3.9°C short of the all-time June record for La Paz. That record, standing at -12.4°C, highlights how close this recent reading came to historic territory.
While La Paz frequently experiences cold mornings during the Southern Hemisphere winter due to its high elevation and clear skies, temperatures below -8°C are rare and usually associated with strong radiational cooling following dry air intrusions and long nights.
This cold snap was part of a broader Andean chill, with other high-altitude cities and towns across Bolivia, Peru, and northern Chile also experiencing sub-zero temperatures this week. It serves as a reminder of the extreme variability in South America’s climate—from record heat to record cold within weeks or even days.
As Bolivia heads deeper into its winter season, meteorologists will be watching closely to see if further cold plunges could challenge decades-old temperature records. For now, residents in La Paz are bracing against the freeze, layering up and keeping a close eye on heaters and frosts.
Illustration picture: https://wikitravel.org/en/File:Amaneciendo_en_La_Paz_con_el_Illimani_de_fondo.jpg
