The Great Andean Snowfall: Valle Nevado Buried Under Two and a Half Meters of Snow

Valle Nevado accumulates 244 cm of snow in one week, leaving some of the most spectacular images of the austral winter in Chile.

The Chilean Andes are experiencing one of the austral winter's major snowfalls. In just one week, Valle Nevado has accumulated 244 centimeters of snow, a figure as exceptional as the images that have emerged from the resort in recent days.

The storm has completely transformed the resort's landscape, covering the slopes with powder snow and necessitating a slower reopening of runs and access points. This is one of those snowfalls skiers dream of experiencing.

While heavy snowfalls are welcome news for the season, they also present significant operational challenges. The snow accumulation has forced Valle Nevado to open lifts and runs progressively while terrain conditioning and avalanche control work continues.

“As a result of the significant snowfall, Valle Nevado is progressively opening lifts and runs as mountain operations permit,” the resort explained. “The safety of our guests remains our top priority, and new areas will be made accessible as conditions allow.”

As of earlier this week, only a limited selection of runs remained open while mountain teams continued to work on expanding the skiable area.

The storm has also impacted access roads. During the most intense days of the storm, main roads remained closed, and although they have since reopened, some restrictions are still in place. Currently, only 4x4 vehicles equipped with chains are permitted, with access further limited to authorized groups, including hotel guests with reservations, local residents, and resort staff.

Valle Nevado has not been the only significant player in this winter event. Ski Portillo, another of the Chilean Andes' most iconic destinations, has also recorded substantial snow accumulations in recent days. The resort recently noted that the duration and intensity of the storm are particularly unusual, making it difficult to predict when ground and air access can be fully normalized.

Weather forecasts also indicate further precipitation in the coming days.