South America’s Famous Santa Rosa Storm In South America, there’s a meteorological phenomenon known as La Tormenta de Santa Rosa (The Santa Rosa Storm) that is both fact and legend. In folklore, it’s said to be the most violent weather of the year, sinking ships and burying entire villages in snow with little mercy. Reality may be a bit different, depending on who you ask. The festival […] Brains Mike Lavery | August 16, 2022 15 Comments
[PHOTOS] Valle Nevado, Chile, Starting its Winter Off With The Most Snow in a Decade or More Chilean ski resort Valle Nevado is experiencing one of the best years for snow in a decade. The mountain has received a total of 3 feet of snow since Friday and is expecting another foot and a half starting Wednesday through Friday this week. But that’s not all: it looks like more snow is headed its way starting Sunday, too. […] Conditions Report SnowBrains | July 12, 2022 1 Comment
[VIDEO] Over 400 People Stranded After Blizzard Slams Andes Mountain Pass While the storm dumping multiple feet of snow in the Andes is good for skiers and riders, it was not so good for these motorists. Related: [VIDEOS] Ski Portillo in Chile Got 3.5 Feet of New Snow Last Weekend Apocalypse in Chile! More than 400 people stranded in a dramatic snowstorm in Los Andes, Chile More than 400 people including […] SnowBrains | July 12, 2022 1 Comment
NASA: Lack of Snow Causing Rapid Glacier Melt in the Andes The central Andes are typically draped with snowfall for much of the summer. The bright blankets of white aren’t just scenic; they’re also protective. Fresh snow is highly reflective, so it prevents underlying glacial ice from absorbing the sun’s energy, warming up, and melting. Related: NASA: Melting Glacier in Chile Exposes 139-Million-Year-Old Ichthyosaur Fossils This year, extreme heat removed those […] SnowBrains | June 14, 2022 0 Comments
Satellite Images Show Historically Low Snowfall in the Andes Mountains Images from the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite show the stark contrast of the snowpack in the Andes Mountain range in South America between this year and last. Related: Ski Season in South America Likely Off-Limits to U.S. Citizens This Year: Chile and Argentina Extend Mandatory Quarantine for Travelers, Bar Americans from Entry The mountain range is facing historically low […] SnowBrains | August 9, 2021 0 Comments
NASA: Dual Storms in the Andes Mountains This post first appeared on NASA Earth Observatory and was written by Kathryn Hansen With winter looming in South America, the first major snowstorm of fall 2021 has blanketed the Andes Mountains near central Chile and Argentina. The event was typical in both its timing (mid-May) and the distribution of snowfall (primarily on the range’s western side). But not all […] SnowBrains | June 9, 2021 0 Comments
The 9 Highest Cities in the World From city streets to mountain peaks, humans live at all different elevations across the globe. Where do most humans live? The vast majority live less than 1 mile high (5,280 feet), however 6% of the World’s population lives among the clouds. Most of the World’s highest cities are centered in South & Central America, with 6 of the top 9 […] Industry News Taylor Stephan | November 3, 2020 1 Comment
20 Photos to Wrap Up the South American Ski Season Winter’s drawing to a close in the southern hemisphere while ours is just around the corner. SO here are 20 photos and a to celebrate the epic, socially-distanced winter that occurred down south and to get you stoked for ours! Photos courtesy of @Andescross Andescross is an organization of professional UIAGM-IFMGA mountain guides that have been providing […] SnowBrains | October 1, 2020 0 Comments