A moisture-rich Pacific front sweeps the Andes this week, delivering a one-two punch of heavy, increasingly cold snowfall.
The first, warmer wave pounds the southern volcanoes Wednesday night–Thursday (July 30-31, 2025) with dense “cream cheese.” A sharper trough then drags snow levels and temps down, unloading light, dry powder on the central Chilean resorts from Thursday night through Saturday.
By dawn Saturday, August 2, storm totals should crack 15–20 inches of blower powder at Valle Nevado, La Parva, El Colorado, and Portillo, with another foot possible on the Chillán massif. Farther south and in northern Patagonia, totals remain modest.
Key Points
Good: Central-Andes resorts (Valle Nevado/La Parva/El Colorado/Portillo) score the sweet spot Thursday night through Saturday: temperatures plunge into the upper teens, snow-to-liquid ratios spike to 15 +:1, winds stay moderate, and back-to-back pulses stack up well over a foot of light, surfy powder. Snow levels crash from roughly 8000 ft to 4500 ft, ensuring dry snow to base.
Bad: The southern volcanoes see a sloppy start (SLR 3–6:1) and ridge top gusts over 45 mph Wednesday night, likely creating upside-down layers and wind crust. Patagonia (Catedral, Chapelco, Castor) only manages 1–3 inches per 12-hour window—hardly chase-worthy. Expect early-week lift holds at Nevados de Chillán and Corralco during the wet, windy phase.
Daily Forecast
Thursday (07/31)
ECMWF snowfall for Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Heavy but wet: Nevados de Chillán grabs 14–20″ Wednesday night plus another 5–8″ Thursday day for storm totals of 19–28″ (SLR 5–9). If you don’t mind dense “right-side-up” powder and gusty north winds, the depth alone justifies first chair. Corralco trails with 9–13″ of heavier snow—ride only if Chillán is storm-locked.
Friday (08/01)
ECMWF snowfall for Friday, August 1, 2025.
Prime powder day in the Central Andes. Overnight, Valle Nevado, La Parva, El Colorado, and Portillo pile up 8–12″ of new snow; another 4–7″ falls during the day, for 12–19″ totals. Temperatures tumble to the mid-teens and SLRs climb to 14–17, yielding light, fast turns with limited wind effect. Dawn patrol north-facing bowls, then migrate to lee-side terrain as northerly breezes pick up by midday.
Saturday (08/02)
ECMWF snowfall for Saturday, August 2, 2025.
Reload. A colder secondary pulse drops 9–16″ of super-dry fluff (SLR ≈ 17) at the same central-Chile quartet Friday night, with a lighter 1-2″ refresh during the day—still enough for face-shots on every lap. Meanwhile, Nevados de Chillán re-enters the conversation with 11–18″ overnight plus 3–6″ Saturday day of colder, mid-density powder; winds ease, making South Side trees a stealth pick if crowds crush Santiago-area lifts.
Sunday (08/03)
ECMWF snowfall for Sunday, August 3, 2025.
Lingering snow showers taper to flurries—expect a soft groomer morning more than fresh powder. If you’re still chasing, Chillán or Corralco may offer leftover stashes thanks to lower skier traffic.
South America Region Details
A broad trough funnels subtropical moisture into the Andes, then taps Antarctic air Friday.
Central Chile (Valle Nevado, La Parva, El Colorado, Portillo): Snow levels start near 7,900ft. Wednesday night but plunge below 4,500ft. Friday night. Two distinct pulses—Thu Night–Fri and Fri Night–Sat—each bring 8–15″ with SLRs rising from 12 to 17 as temps fall from mid-20s to upper teens. Winds hover 10–15 mph with moderate gusts; expect superb surface quality and minimal lift impacts.
Nevados de Chillán & Corralco: Northern volcanoes endure a wet, windy hammering first (Wed Night SLR ~5:1, gusts 45–50 mph), but colder air Friday night lowers snow levels to 3,300ft. and boosts SLR into double digits. Totals reach 30-40″ at Chillán by Sunday, but quality flips from manky to fluffy only after the Friday change-over.
Mendoza Sector (Las Leñas): Intermittent pulses add 6–12″ through Saturday night, steadily drier (SLR 10 → 17) as freezing levels fall from 8,400ft. to 3,500ft. Depth is respectable but a shade behind central Chile, and midweek coverage is thin.
Northern Patagonia (Catedral, Chapelco): Weak frontal remnants lay down 1–3″ every twelve hours between Friday and Sunday; winds occasionally gust 25 mph. Accumulations too small to warrant a drive.
Tierra del Fuego (Cerro Castor): A glancing blow brings just 1–2″ Wednesday night and Thursday with marginal freezing levels (~1 300 ft). Groomers stay the play.
Ride the timing right, and Friday–Saturday in the Central Andes will deliver the deepest, lightest powder of the period.
