SnowBrains Forecast: Up to 70 cm in South America by Sunday

The South America snow forecast now favors south-central Chile, with a Wednesday refresh followed by a stronger, windier push from Friday into Sunday. Snow is already falling lightly around Portillo and Valle Nevado. The weekend signal discussed in Sunday’s update is clearer, but its heaviest accumulation is focused farther south than the earlier broad outlook suggested.

Snow continues around the high central Andes on Tuesday evening, then builds across Chile on Wednesday before easing Thursday. The models generally agree on this first pulse, with the largest Wednesday accumulation near Nevados de Chillán and Corralco. Snow levels during heavier precipitation favor upper terrain, while snow near lower slopes may be dense or wet. Portillo’s operations report shows partial lift service, so the developing snow remains relevant for lift-served skiing there.

A second, better organized wave reaches south-central Chile on Friday and spreads toward the Bariloche area through Saturday, with lighter snow lingering Sunday morning. Models agree on the storm’s broad timing and southern focus, though they differ on intensity. Snow levels fall as the storm develops, improving snow quality above the lower slopes, but gusts near 80 km/h around Corralco could scour exposed snow and interrupt lifts. The largest forecast accumulation is at Nevados de Chillán, where ski operations ended September 20; Las Leñas ended lift service September 28. At those mountains, new snow builds the snowpack rather than providing lift-served turns.

From late Sunday into early next week, another snowy period remains plausible in the high central Andes. The models spread out on its strength and peak timing, and some also carry snow farther south. Confidence is lower for that later period, so its accumulation is excluded from the totals below.

South America Snow Forecast Resort Totals (Tue Sep 29 – Sun Oct 04)

• Nevados de Chillán – 46-69 cm
• Corralco – 33-50 cm
• Portillo – 32-45 cm
• Valle Nevado – 27-41 cm
• El Colorado – 20-30 cm
• La Parva – 18-28 cm
• Las Leñas – 15-21 cm
• Cerro Catedral – 13-20 cm
• Chapelco – 11-17 cm
• Cerro Castor – 1 cm