Upto 1m/40" Snowfall in the Andes

A huge snowstorm in the Andes has brought up to a metre / 40" of snowfall to South American ski slopes over the past 72 hours.

Most centres have reported at least 50cm/20" accumulations with the storm well timed ahead of the final month of a season which has seen well below average snowfall for most areas.

Now though a centre that had closed due to too little snow, another that had had to postpone a freeriding contest has rescheduled it and several more resorts have announced they're extending their seasons into October.

Chile's world-famous Portillo has reported 95cm (38") over the past 72 hours, 50cm/20" of that coming in 24 hours yesterday. The linked Tres Valles resorts of La Parva, Valle Nevado and El Colorado reported 90cm (3 feet) accumulations yesterday as the snow was still falling.

It's all great timing for the final month of South America's 2025 season.

"What makes it especially fun is that the snow coincides with a full calendar of cultural events from the International Freeski Film Festival (Aug. 30) to Wine Fest (Sept. 10) and Chile’s Fiestas Patrias celebrations (Sept. 18–19). It’s the ideal rhythm: powder turns at sunrise, wine tastings at sunset," a spokesperson for Valle Nevado said, adding, "Valle Nevado is seeing a late-season surge of interest as North American season passholders take advantage of reciprocal days and book trips on short notice. With fresh powder in abundance and an exciting lineup of events, there’s never been a better time to ski Valle Nevado and experience the best of Chile’s winter."

(La Parva)

Argentina's Caviahue is the ski area that has re-opened today thanks to the snowfall whilst southerly Cerro Castor and the continent's largest centre Cerro Catedral near Bariloche say they'll now be staying open into October.