Argentina Zonda Wind: Orange Alert Shuts Mendoza Schools as Gusts Hit 90 km/h
Weather: Argentina
Key Facts
—Alert. Argentina’s national weather service (SMN) has an orange alert in force for intense Zonda wind across most of Mendoza province on Thursday 24 September 2026, with gusts that may exceed 90 km/h.
—Winds. Sustained speeds of 40–60 km/h are forecast, with sharply reduced visibility, a sudden temperature rise and very low humidity; the high in Mendoza city is expected to reach 31°C.
—Schools. The provincial education authority (DGE) suspended in-person classes across Mendoza for the morning shift; a decision on the afternoon shift was due at 11:00, with lessons continuing virtually.
—Damage. By early Thursday the Zonda had already left 61 incidents in Mendoza: fires, roofs blown off and fallen trees, Los Andes reported.
—Wider map. Zonda alerts also cover parts of San Juan and Neuquén, while red, orange and yellow warnings for rain and snow apply across seven provinces, according to the SMN alert map reported by Crónica.
—Mountain pass. The Cristo Redentor crossing to Chile is operating restricted hours, 10:00–21:00, with barriers closing at 19:00 at Uspallata and Guardia Vieja.
Mendoza woke up on Thursday to howling Zonda winds, suspended classes and an orange alert from Argentina’s national weather service, as gusts approaching 90 km/h brought down trees and tore off roofs across the province at the foot of the Andes.
What the Orange Alert Says
The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN), Argentina’s national weather service, placed most of Mendoza province under an orange alert — its second-highest level — for intense Zonda wind on Thursday 24 September. The warning states that the area will be affected by Zonda winds of 40 to 60 km/h, with gusts that could exceed 90 km/h.
The SMN cautions that the phenomenon can cause a significant reduction in visibility, a sudden rise in temperature and conditions of very low relative humidity. The gusts are expected to continue into the afternoon and evening, and the maximum temperature in Mendoza city is forecast to reach 31°C.
The orange zone covers the provincial capital and the greater Mendoza area — Ciudad, Guaymallén, Godoy Cruz and Maipú — as well as the foothills of Las Heras and Luján de Cuyo, Junín, Rivadavia, the Uco Valley districts of Tunuyán, Tupungato and San Carlos, General Alvear and the lowlands of San Rafael and Malargüe. A lower-level yellow alert applies to the east of the province and Lavalle, according to Los Andes.
Classes Suspended and 61 Incidents Reported
The Dirección General de Escuelas (DGE), Mendoza’s provincial education authority, announced the preventive suspension of in-person classes for the morning shift across the entire province. A decision on the afternoon shift was due at 11:00 local time, and authorities stressed that lessons would continue virtually in the meantime.
The wind made itself felt from the early hours. Gusts began in the Uco Valley on Wednesday night and reached greater Mendoza before dawn. By Thursday morning the Zonda had already left 61 incidents across the province — fires, roofs blown off and fallen trees — Los Andes reported, citing the provincial authorities.
Official advice to residents is familiar to Mendocinos but worth repeating: stay hydrated, especially children and the elderly; do not light fires outdoors; keep medication at hand for asthma or other respiratory conditions; seal homes against the hot, dry air; avoid standing under trees; and refrain from outdoor exercise while the wind blows.
What the Zonda Wind Is
The Zonda is a foehn wind — a hot, dry downslope wind that forms when Pacific air masses cross the Andes, lose their moisture on the Chilean side and descend, warming rapidly, into the Argentine provinces of Mendoza, San Juan and San Luis. It typically appears between May and November and can raise temperatures by double digits within hours.
Because it arrives suddenly and carries dust, the Zonda is notorious for dropping visibility on roads, worsening respiratory problems and raising the risk of wildfires during dry spells. Orange alerts, as issued on Thursday, signal a level of intensity at which the authorities routinely advise limiting time outdoors and schools consider suspending classes.
Mountain Passes and the Wider Alert Map
In the high mountains, the Cristo Redentor pass — the main road crossing between Mendoza and Santiago de Chile — is operating on restricted hours, open from 10:00 to 21:00 with barriers closing at 19:00 at Uspallata and Guardia Vieja. The pass has had a difficult season, having been closed to cars for extended periods earlier this year.
The Zonda alerts extend beyond Mendoza into parts of San Juan and Neuquén provinces. Separately, the SMN alert map carried red, orange and yellow warnings for rain and snow across seven provinces on Thursday, Crónica reported — a reminder that spring in Argentina’s centre-west can deliver opposite extremes on the same day.
What Comes Next
Relief is forecast to arrive on Friday. The SMN outlook for Mendoza city calls for partly cloudy skies, a drop in temperature and moderate winds from the south, with a low of 12°C and a high of 25°C — a sharp contrast to Thursday’s 31°C furnace wind.
Until then, the province remains in precaution mode. The immediate decisions to watch are the DGE’s 11:00 update on afternoon classes and any escalation or lifting of the SMN alert as the gusts persist into the evening.
What We Could Not Confirm
As of Thursday morning we could not confirm any injuries linked to the 61 reported incidents, and provincial authorities had not published a breakdown of the figure by municipality. The exact department-level scope of the Zonda alerts in San Juan and Neuquén had not been detailed in the reports we reviewed, and the DGE’s decision on afternoon classes was still pending at the time of publication. We will update this article if the alert level changes or casualties are confirmed.
More: Argentina news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Zonda wind in Argentina?
The Zonda is a hot, dry foehn wind that forms when Pacific air crosses the Andes, loses moisture on the Chilean side and descends into western Argentina, warming sharply. It mainly affects Mendoza, San Juan and San Luis between May and November, raising temperatures suddenly, cutting visibility with dust and increasing wildfire risk.
Are schools closed in Mendoza because of the Zonda alert?
Yes. The provincial education authority (DGE) suspended in-person classes across all of Mendoza for the morning shift on Thursday 24 September 2026 as a preventive measure under the SMN orange alert. Lessons continue virtually, and a decision on the afternoon shift was due at 11:00 local time.
How strong will the Zonda gusts be on 24 September 2026?
The SMN forecasts sustained Zonda winds of 40 to 60 km/h across most of Mendoza, with gusts that could exceed 90 km/h into the afternoon and evening. The high in Mendoza city is expected to reach 31°C before cooler, calmer weather arrives on Friday.
Connected Coverage
The Cristo Redentor pass, open only on restricted hours today, has had a difficult season on the Mendoza–Santiago corridor.
Cristo Redentor Pass Between Mendoza and Santiago Still Closed to Cars (as of 13 August 2026)
Sources: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN); Dirección General de Escuelas (DGE) Mendoza; Los Andes; MDZ Online; Crónica.
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