South America
Chile
Nevados de Chillán
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,000 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Jun to 31 Oct. At the peak of the season the village at 1,600 m is usually skiable (74% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 175 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Nevados de Chillán 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, 1,600 m
21 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 2,000 m
6 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than 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
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 5% of days.
May
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 28% of days.
June
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 86% of days, typically 140 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 455 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
July
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,000 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days, with a typical depth of 324 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 33%. Snow usually reaches the village too (64% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 353 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
August
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,000 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 410 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (74% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 359 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
September
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,000 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 441 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (62% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 196 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
October
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,000 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 98% of days, with a typical depth of 354 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 44%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 133 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
November
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 71% of days, typically 125 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 59 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
December
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 12% of days.
January to March
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Nevados de Chillán?
For natural snow, 16 Jun to 31 Oct. In that window mid-mountain (2,000 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 Nevados de Chillán in June?
In June, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 86% of days over thirty winters, typically 140 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Nevados de Chillán?
At its most reliable, in September, the village at 1,600 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 62% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Nevados de Chillán?
The modelled village is at 1,600 m, mid-mountain at 2,000 m and the summit at 2,400 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Nevados de Chillán?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 116 and 219 days per season, with a typical winter around 179. 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 Nevados de Chillán?
Carriel Sur (CCP) is about 148 km away in a straight line. Road distances are longer.