Following the devastating earthquake in Chile, rescue and cleanup efforts willnot have to deal with any significant weather issues as temperatures willremain seasonable with highs in the 70s.High pressure west of Chile in the eastern South Pacific will continue topromote dry, sunny weather through the middle of the week.
A weak frontal boundary will move across Chile on Tuesday and Tuesday night;however, only a few clouds are expected across the areas impacted most severelyby the earthquake.
The devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck around 3:34 a.m. local time(1:34 a.m. EST) Saturday. The earthquake's epicenter was registered offshore ofMaule, Chile. That is 70 miles north-northeast and 200 miles southwest,respectively, of the Chilean cities of Concepcion and Santiago. Concepcion isChile's second-largest city with a population of 200,000. Santiago is thenation's capital.
The earthquake was even felt in Buenos Aires, which is nearly 1,000 miles awayfrom the quake's center.
Dozens of aftershocks rattled the area in the wake of the earthquake. Powerfulaftershocks were still being recorded Monday, a few as high as magnitude 5.3.
Earthquakes are not uncommon in Chile. In fact, the largest earthquake in theworld--a 9.5-magnitude earthquake--struck the country in May 1960. Thatdevastating earthquake claimed the lives of 1,655 people, according toCNN.com.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller
