The Snow Keeps Coming: Chile's Ski Resorts Brace for Another Blizzard

Have you heard the news about Chile and Argentina’s ski season? It’s true.

South America is experiencing one of the snowiest winters in recent memory, and conditions at ski resorts are at an all-time high.

The season started off slowly, forcing multiple resorts to delay their openings, but then a record blizzard dumped nearly 200 inches of snow in less than two weeks.

Alec Blossom, a ski instructor from Jackson who spends his summers teaching and guiding at Ski Portillo, described the 190-plus-inch storm as “real snorkel territory.”

Then, another storm hit last week, delivering more than three feet of snow to ski resorts like Portillo, Valle Nevado, Las Leñas (Argentina) and La Parva.

Nearly every ski resort in Chile and Argentina is reporting season snowfall totals significantly higher than average, and there’s no end to the snow in sight. Now, another multiple-day storm is expected to hit tomorrow, August 25, and last through Monday, August 31, 2026.

Storm totals could exceed 80 inches at Nevados de Chillan and 60 inches at Ski Portillo, according to OpenSnow. Ski Portillo extended its season into October for the first time in decades due to the forecast.

“When the mountain has this much to offer, saying goodbye just isn’t an option,” wrote Ski Portillo celebrating its banner season.

I had the pleasure and extreme fortune of staying and skiing at Ski Portillo, Chile, last week (full story to come soon).

The locals kept telling me how lucky I was to experience the resort with so much snow. Lines like the Gargantita chutes under the resort’s Plateau Chair typically require a small air out. This year, those mandatory airs are completely filled in, allowing skiers to rip their chalky, deep snow at full speed.

The amount of snow was even more evident around the hotel. The path from the ski and boot room is typically flat, according to the locals. This year, the staff has had to carve multiple steps into the snow. Even the lowest-altitude terrain around Ski Portillo’s Juncalillo lift is absolutely buried.

Here’s a quick POV from last week off Ski Portillo’s Caracara lift. It was one of the best in-bounds powder skiing days I’ve ever had. Tap or click to watch.

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Stay tuned for a longer story about my experience at Ski Portillo, and if you’re considering a last-second trip down there, go for it. You won’t be disappointed.

Related: With 20+ Feet of Snow, Portillo Extends Ski Season to October