We have to push through a few more days of calm weather before another big storm cycle finally takes aim for the central Andes. The models have backed off a little bit on overall snow totals but there will still be deep snow and powder days ahead. Monday and most of Tuesday will remain warm and dry but the first in this series of storms will arrive on Tuesday night. This storm is weak and will graze the South American coast as it rotates around a very strong upper-level low well off the coast.

It won't be until the second system swings through that heavier precipitation will get underway and snow levels will begin to fall. Temperatures will actually rise initially as the first system brings light rain and snow to the central zone on Tuesday night. 

On Wednesday evening the second storm will move into the area with a cold front and heavy snow. This will kick off an extended period of wild weather as the upper-level low slowly rotates off the coast sending multiple waves into the Andes. By Thursday morning snow levels will be below the bases and the conditions will deteriorate rapidly.

Very high snowfall rates are expected between Wednesday night and Sunday, and with strong winds, resort and road closures are definitely a possibility. If you’re going to Portillo or Valle Nevado you should plan on arriving by Thursday evening. 

The heaviest snow is expected from Wednesday night through Thursday morning and Thursday night through Friday night, though it won't necessarily let up too much in between. Storm #2 will encompass the period of snow from Wednesday night through Saturday, and the estimated snow totals are shown below.

In the northern zone, expect 40 - 80 cm during this period, with perhaps a bit more at Portillo and Valle Nevado, while the central zone could see greater totals, in the .5 - 1 m range. The higher end of this range is expected around Nevados de Chillan, Antuco, Corralco, and Pucon, with totals decreasing further south and east.

There really won't be much of a break if at all before the next system moves onshore, which will bring another round of snow from Saturday night through Tuesday/Wednesday. Totals won't match the previous storm, but another round of solid snow is on track for this time. It's a bit too early to get into all the details, but an early look at snow totals is shown below.

We should dry out for the middle and latter part of next week but the long-range models show more action possible beyond that.

Next update on Friday.

Thanks for reading the South America Daily Snow!

Luke Stone
Forecaster, OpenSnow

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