***Update 3pm PDT September 5th, 2018: 

Las Lenas has confirmed that their last day of operations will be Saturday September 8th, 2018 – 3 weeks ahead of schedule

VALLE DE LAS LEÑAS informa:

Dadas las  excepcionales condiciones climatológicas que estamos atravesando con temperaturas superiores a los 20 grados en la alta cordillera; el equipo de Montaña de Valle de Las Leñas, no se encuentra en condiciones de garantizar pistas habilitadas dentro del dominio esquiable para nuestros clientes.

Asimismo, las altas temperaturas, no permiten la fabricación de nieve artificial a pesar de nuestro moderno sistema integrado por cuarenta cañones.

Por estos motivos, para resguardar la seguridad de quienes nos elijen año a año para disfrutar de nuestro centro de alta montaña, hemos tomado la decisión de realizar el cierre definitivo de la temporada de invierno 2018 el día Sábado 8 de septiembre. – Las Lenas, today

Direct Translation:

Yo, we gonna close on Saturday, September 8th, 2018 due to it being more than 68ºF (20ºC) here recently.  Peace out 2018.

Original Article:

It’s rumored that Las Lenas ski resort in Argentina may close this Sunday – 3 weeks ahead of schedule.

Why?

Because the base is sorely lacking in snow.

It’s been a very dry season at Las Lenas.

Las Lenas is the best ski resort in the southern hemisphere when it has snow.

It’s been a very warm season at Las Lenas.

The forecast high temperature today is 68ºF at the base according to Las Lenas’ website…  That can’t be right.

Our buddy Owen Leeper is at Las Lenas right now and his images show just how bad the snow situation is down low.

Up high in the backcountry, the snow is thin but looks damn fun.  See TGR’s instagram story for videos of Owen Leeper crushing up high in the backcountry yesterday.

What we know:

• Our friend who is a ski patroller at Las Lenas was laid off last week in anticipation of an early closing.
• The Virgo hotel in Las Lenas informed our associate that Las Lenas would close on Sunday.
• The snow is so lacking down low that it’s hard to fathom them staying open another week.
• Official word on a closing date has not been released.
• Las Lenas closes early more often than not in the past 10 years.
• Las Lenas hasn’t had a “good” snow year since 2007.
• Las Lenas with snow is the best ski resort in the southern hemisphere.