SANTIAGO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A winter heat wave bringing historically high temperatures to Chile is a "window" to an increasingly warm future, according to scientists. "Having temperatures of 37 degrees (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in the middle of southern winter is extraordinary," said Raul Cordero, a climatologist at the University of Santiago. He added that while it's often hard to establish a connection between extreme weather events and climate change, temperatures in parts of Chile have been breaking records year after year. "Winter high-temperature events do affect the spring flow rate that can be expected from melt," Jacques said. According to the latest service reports, high temperatures in the north and center of the country will last all week.

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Persons: SANTIAGO, Martin Jacques, Raul Cordero, Jacques, El Nino, Jorge Vega, Natalia Ramos, Alexander Villegas Organizations: Southern, Chile's University of Concepcion, University of Santiago, Thomson Locations: Chile