South America Daily Snow
By Luke Stone, Forecaster Posted 10 months ago August 21, 2024
Latest Storm Moves Inland
Summary
This long-duration but only somewhat impactful storm system will finally push onshore and deliver its biggest punch. The central zone will see heavy snow on Wednesday night and Thursday, as this storm has trended stronger over the last few days. A smaller storm will be right on its heels keeping the snow going through Friday. Expect a break in the action this weekend and early next week.
Short Term Forecast
Good news as the models have increased snow totals for this storm with better dynamics as it moves inland. The heaviest snow will fall from Wednesday night through Thursday with the deepest totals expected in the northern part of the central zone. Snow may become heavy as early as this (Wednesday) morning at Nevados de Chillan, where totals by Friday could wind up in the 40 - 80 cm range.
Elsewhere in the central zone, expect 20 - 50 cm in the northern part with only 5 - 15 cm in the southern. Further east at the Argentinian resorts, < 5 cm is expected. The northern zone will see mainly light snow during this time with totals in the 10 - 20 cm by the end of Friday.
The latest forecast from the American model is shown below.
The European model has the zone of heaviest snow a bit farther north, bringing greater totals to the northern zone. I could definitely see places like Portillo, Las Lenas, and especially Valle Nevado coming in above the totals I mentioned. Check out the European forecast below.
While this storm will depart the region later on Thursday, another smaller system will swing through right on its heels, as you can see below.
This will keep light snow going mainly in the northern zone and the northern part of the central zone, with minor additional accumulations.
Extended Forecast
A ridge will start to move in on Friday night and will stick around through the middle of next week. A weak storm may get close enough to the region on Sunday for some showers, but the latest guidance keeps it too far south for any impacts. The models show a stronger storm possible around Wednesday or Thursday of next week.
Next update on Friday.
Thanks for reading the South America Daily Snow!
Luke Stone (@imlukesnow)
Forecaster, OpenSnow
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