This storm has been pounding the northern zone since Tuesday night. Snow totals as of yesterday are listed below. I will update this list later today if additional information becomes available.

Valle Nevado: 175 cm (Updated) 92 cm (36 in)

La Parva: 160 cm

Farellones: 25 cm (10 in)

Las Lenas: 105 cm (Updated) 54 cm (22 in)

Corralco: 30 cm (12 in)

Due to the heavy snow and conditions, Portillo has already announced they will not open this weekend. The road to Valle Nevado, La Parva, Farellones, and El Colorado closed early Thursday morning. As a result, Farellones, La Parva, and El Colorado remained closed yesterday. 

Here are some shots from yesterday across the region. 

Here are some cool before and after shots from Valle Nevado.

Heavy snow will continue on Friday in the northern zone, before tapering to showers Friday night. An additional 20 - 40 cm are expected by Saturday morning. Moderate to heavy snow will fall above 1800 m on Friday in the central zone, and stick around a bit longer, through Saturday morning. Expect 10 - 25 cm above 1800 m, and < 10 cm lower down. Snow levels will be a bit lower farther south, so Pucon may see higher snow totals below 1800 m. 

Additional snow expected through Sunday:

We're still looking at a bit of a lull this weekend in the northern zone, while precipitation will become lighter and perhaps taper off in the central zone. The next storm will already have its sights set on the Chilean coast though, and precipitation will intensify as early as Sunday night in the central zone.

This system will take a more southerly track favoring the central zone, and feature colder air with lower snow levels. Snow will continue through Wednesday before another system arrives Wednesday night that will bring heavy snow back to the northern zone and keep moderate snow going in the central zone. Snow levels should be below all base elevations for most if not all of this storm. 

This is another potent storm that will bring significant accumulations, especially in the central zone. The northern part of the central zone is going to get hammered this time, with .75 - 1.25 m at resorts like Corralco, Pucon, Antuco, and Las Araucarias. Nevados de Chillan could exceed 1.5 m through Wednesday. Antillanca and Volcan Osorno should see 30 - 60 cm while further south and east, at Cerro Bayo, Cerro Catedral, and Chapelco expect 25 - 50 cm.

In the northern zone, the heavier snow will arrive a little later, on Monday night, with totals in the 25 - 50 cm range at Portillo, Valle Nevado, and Las Lenas. Snow levels will be similar to the previous storm in the northern zone. 

Below is an early look at snow totals for this storm.

Snow from this storm will wind down on Wednesday as it departs the region, but another storm will move in immediately. This system will be tracking farther north and favor the northern zone, with additional heavy snow through Friday and another 50 + cm possible. The central zone should see solid snow totals from this one as well.

Snow will continue through Friday, but we should see a break between storms on in the Friday night through Sunday timeframe. The models are not clear on the pattern the following week, but additional storms are possible as early as Tuesday.

Next update on Friday.

Thanks for reading the South America Daily Snow!

Luke Stone
Forecaster, OpenSnow

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