South America
Chile
Valle Nevado
Natural snow at mid-mountain (3,265 m) rarely reaches a reliable 30 cm; the best odds are 1–15 Oct, at 88% of days. At the peak of the season the village at 2,860 m is usually skiable (77% of days) and the summit averages 18 cm of fresh snow per fortnight.
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 16% of days.
June
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 44% of days. The summit averages 103 cm of new snow in the month.
July
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 78% of days, typically 64 cm deep. In the worst of the eleven seasons there was none. Snow usually reaches the village too (78% of days). The summit averages 62 cm of new snow in the month.
August
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 78% of days, typically 88 cm deep. In the worst of the eleven seasons there was none. Snow usually reaches the village too (80% of days). The summit averages 65 cm of new snow in the month.
September
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 82% of days, typically 88 cm deep. In the worst of the eleven seasons there was none. Snow usually reaches the village too (83% of days). The summit averages 50 cm of new snow in the month.
October
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 82% of days, typically 84 cm deep. In the worst of the eleven seasons there was none. Snow usually reaches the village too (62% of days). The summit averages 30 cm of new snow in the month.
November
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 46% of days. The summit averages 25 cm of new snow in the month.
December
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 14% 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 Valle Nevado?
Natural snow at Valle Nevado rarely builds a reliable base. The best odds are 1–15 Oct, and October is the most reliable month at 82% of days. Most skiing here relies on snowmaking, which this model does not include.
Is there snow at Valle Nevado in June?
In June, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 44% of days over eleven seasons, typically 28 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Valle Nevado?
At its most reliable, in October, the village at 2,860 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 62% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Valle Nevado?
The modelled village is at 2,860 m, mid-mountain at 3,265 m and the summit at 3,670 m. The ski area itself spans 2,858 m to 3,675 m.
Is snow at Valle Nevado getting more or less reliable?
Over the eleven seasons modelled, snow-sure days have gone down by about 64 per decade. Eleven seasons is too short to separate a climate trend from year-to-year swings.
What is the nearest airport to Valle Nevado?
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) is about 50 km away in a straight line. Governor Francisco Gabrielli (MDZ) is 148 km away. Road distances are longer.