South America
Argentina
Chapelco
Natural snow at mid-mountain (1,615 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Jun to 15 Oct. At the peak of the season the village at 1,250 m is unreliable (41% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 96 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Chapelco has changed
Days each winter (May to October) with 30 cm or more of natural snow, every winter since 1950. The lines are the averages for 1961 to 1990 and 1995 to 2024.
Village, 1,250 m
10 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 1,615 m
About the same as in 1961–1990.Modelled from ERA5 weather (Copernicus Climate Change Service), one consistent record for every winter. Checked against measured snow, this model got the direction of change right at 18 of 19 Swiss weather stations and 22 of 25 US snow stations, but overstated its size: a typical loss of 26 days against 17 measured in Switzerland, and 12 against 6 in the US. Read the changes as upper estimates. See the measurements · All 104 resorts since 1950
Month by month
April
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
May
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 14% of days.
June
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 74% of days, typically 66 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 253 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
July
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,615 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days, with a typical depth of 156 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 33%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 208 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
August
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,615 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 204 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 202 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
September
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,615 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 222 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 105 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
October
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 89% of days, typically 147 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 80 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
November
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 24% of days.
December to March
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Chapelco?
For natural snow, 16 Jun to 15 Oct. In that window mid-mountain (1,615 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across thirty winters. September is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Chapelco in June?
In June, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 74% of days over thirty winters, typically 66 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Chapelco?
At its most reliable, in September, the village at 1,250 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 24% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is Chapelco?
The modelled village is at 1,250 m, mid-mountain at 1,615 m and the summit at 1,980 m. The ski area itself spans 1,259 m to 1,971 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Chapelco?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 103 and 192 days per season, with a typical winter around 154. Thirty winters show how much one season can differ from the next. For how snow has changed since 1950, see the long record below.
What is the nearest airport to Chapelco?
San Martín de los Andes (CPC) is about 15 km away in a straight line. Teniente Luis Candelaria (BRC) is 111 km away. Road distances are longer.