South America Snow Forecast: Up to 40 cm by Saturday

The South America snow forecast brings a staggered Tuesday-to-Saturday storm, with northern Chile first and the heaviest snow shifting south late Thursday and Friday. Nevados de Chillán leads at 22-38 cm, while Portillo follows at 20-32 cm. Falling snow levels should steadily improve quality, although wind could complicate exposed terrain in the far south.

Snow begins around Portillo, Valle Nevado, La Parva, and El Colorado on Tuesday afternoon and evening, then reaches Cerro Castor early Wednesday. Forecast guidance agrees well on the sequence and cooling trend, though it varies on the strength of each pulse. Snow levels around the north-central resorts start near 2,100-2,300 meters and fall sharply through Thursday, keeping precipitation as snow across their lift-served elevations. Cerro Castor’s snow level drops from roughly 400 meters to sea level as temperatures fall, but gusts of 50-60 km/h could affect exposed operations.

A broader and stronger wave arrives Thursday afternoon, peaks from Thursday night through Friday, and tapers from north to south on Saturday. Nevados de Chillán, Corralco, Cerro Catedral, and Chapelco initially see snow levels near 1,500-1,900 meters, creating a risk of dense or mixed precipitation on their lowest slopes before colder air pushes the level toward or below 1,200 meters. Snow should become mostly moderate in density, with lighter high-elevation snow at the colder north-central resorts and Las Leñas. Timing confidence is strong, but differences in band placement create wider accumulation ranges around Nevados de Chillán and Portillo. Several resorts currently have partial terrain, so fresh snow does not guarantee every lift or sector will open immediately.

Forecast detail remains dependable through early Sunday, after the main storm has cleared most of the region. A smaller reload may reach Cerro Castor from Sunday into Monday, but its duration is less certain. A broader storm signal then appears between Friday, September 18, and Tuesday, September 22. The GFS is a notably wetter outlier during that period, so it is too early for credible totals or precise timing.