Massive Snowfall Continues in South America
25th June 2024
Last modified on June 29th, 2024
Chile and Argentina are seeing the best start to their ski seasons in decades. Some resorts are unable to open as there is too much snow. UPDATED
The majority of ski areas in Chile and several in Argentina had already opened early for their 2024 seasons.
We have earlier reported on the stella start to the season in South America:
In Chile Valle Nevado has seen 5m already and opened three weeks earlier than planned at the end of May.
“In an average winter, the resort typically receives 6.1m of snow annually, and this season’s early snowfall is setting the stage for a spectacular winter,” said a statement from the resort.
It plans to stay open until October 6th.
The neighbouring resort of La Parva is also open.
The two are set to link up and become the largest ski area in the southern hemisphere.
Image credit, La Parva.
Avalanches have hit the mountain towns east of the capital, Santiago.
In the Lagunillas Ski Center, 33 people were trapped, including eight children due to road closures caused by snow slides.
The authorities have been able to provide them with food and shelter.
An avalanche blocked an access road in the mountains with nine people trapped in the town of Banos Morales and 20 stuck in Lo Valdes.
The towns are awaiting snowploughs to clear roads, where 10m of snow built up after the avalanche.
“We are doing everything possible to reach them and take them to a safe area,” said Alejandra Cortes, a federal government delegate to Cordillera province to the Reuters news agency.
In Argentina, Las Lenas has had to delay its opening with 6.5m of snow on the upper slopes.
“We were excited about the pre-opening on Thursday 20/6, we put a lot of effort preparing the mountain but unfortunately the weather conditions made it impossible to do it,” said a statement from the resort.
“It was such a magnitude the accumulation of snow that even the access road had to be closed by the provincial authorities, in fact it is being worked on the R222 but it will still remain cut until the end of this storm due to the danger of avalanche.
“Thank you to all our visitors, collaborators, friends and suppliers for understanding the situation and having full confidence that in this kind of natural events, for us, safety comes first.
“We want to ratify our will for the official opening date to be 6/29 as communicated timely, with the enormous joy of kicking off a season that hopefully will be as we are all imagining.
“We are expecting you with a lot, but a lot of snow all over the mountain and of course hoping the weather conditions will be with us.”
Its fellow Argentinian resort of Portillo has also had to delay the season.
It has seen 4.2m of snow and the access road remain blocked.
“Due to these weather conditions, we are forced to postpone the opening date to Saturday, June 29 when we hope the storm clears,” said the General Manager for Ski Portillo, Miguel Purcell.
“We appreciate you understanding during this unprecedented situation.
“These storms have created incredible conditions for the season and we look forward to welcoming guests soon.”
It has not been so good in Australia and New Zealand where winter proper is still to get underway, though resorts are open.
Here at PlanetSKI we’ll keep you posted on conditions in the Southern hemisphere.
Do check back…
