Huge Snowfalls in South America

There have been some of the biggest snowfalls of winter 2023 so far in Argentina and Chile.

Resorts have reported up to a metre (40”) of snowfall in 24 hours as part of a multi-day storm that has dramatically improved snow depths for the final month of the season.

Chile’s famous powder resort of Portillo has been one of the big winners, seeing its base jump past the 2.1 metres (seven feet) mark after 94cm (over three feet) of snowfall in 24 hours.

All the snowfall, at times accompanied by gale force winds to give blizzard conditions, has inevitably  caused issues though, closing some resorts as access roads are cleared, lifts dug out and avalanche danger mitigated.

South American ski holidays specialists PowderQuest are currently running trips from Argentina’s Las Leñas and this morning reported, “The storm has cleared and conditions are, well…DEEP!”

PowderQuest reports snow totals from the storm were:

Las Lenas, Argentina: 11-13 feet (3.3-4 metres)
Portillo, Chile: 8.2 feet (2.5 metres)
Valle Nevado, Chile: 6 feet (1.8 metres)
Cerro Catedral, Argentina: 4 feet (1.2 metres)

Cerro Bayo pictured.