Andes September 2026 Snow: Up to 20 cm

Andes September 2026 snow forecast map — Credit: ECMWF

This South America snow forecast brings a modest refresh through Wednesday, with a potentially stronger storm from Friday into Sunday. Snow showers continue in parts of the Andes on Sunday. The midweek snowfall is the firmer forecast for skiers; weekend amounts remain less certain.

Light snow continues around Valle Nevado on Sunday, while a more organized pulse reaches the central Andes on Monday. Another wave spreads across the region on Wednesday before tapering early Thursday. Through that period, the forecast calls for 14-20 cm at Portillo and Valle Nevado and 9-13 cm at Nevados de Chillán. Snow levels generally fall below the higher resort bases as precipitation strengthens, though the first snow near lower elevations may be dense.

The Wednesday wave offers the clearest timing agreement among the models. For lift-served plans, Las Leñas has named Monday its final lift day, Chapelco lists Wednesday as its planned season end, and Nevados de Chillán ended ski operations on September 20. Those dates limit the lift-served opportunity for any snow that arrives later.

A broader storm signal develops from Friday into Sunday, especially from central Chile south toward Corralco and the Bariloche area. The models generally bring precipitation, colder air and stronger wind, but disagree substantially on snowfall amounts and how long the heaviest snow lasts. Snow should become less dense as temperatures fall, while exposed terrain could see wind-affected surfaces and lift interruptions. Further northern Andes snow is possible early next week, with timing and scale still uncertain.