A new frontal system is set to reach Chile on Friday 19, bringing rain, strong winds, heavy snowfall and a colder air mass that will push temperatures down across much of the country. The first areas to feel it will be Patagonia and the south, with the system advancing from the ocean on Thursday 18 before arriving between early morning and morning on Friday.
The strongest snowfall is expected in the cordillera of the south and south austral zones, where accumulations could reach between 70 and 90 cm. In parts of the south, rain totals may range from 30 to 60 mm, while the central zone is more likely to see clouds, showers in foothill sectors and snow showers in the mountain range rather than widespread rain. That difference matters for readers trying to pin down where the rain will actually fall, not just where the front will pass.
The timing makes this a story for today because the cold air will settle in during the weekend and the drop in temperatures will be felt across much of Chile. In the north center and norte chico, some sectors could run up to 7 ºC below average, with the coldest conditions on the south coast, in the coastal range and in valleys of the north center. Wind gusts could reach 80 km/h in insular sectors of the Aysén Region and inland coastal areas of Los Lagos, 70 km/h on the southern continental coast, and 60 to 80 km/h in the cordillera as the wind spreads toward the central zone.
By the start of the week, an extensive high-pressure system will remain firm over much of Chile, keeping the cold in place even after the front moves on. There is still no date for the return of rain to the more populated sectors of the Metropolitana, Valparaíso and Coquimbo regions, which leaves the central coast waiting while the south takes the first hit. For now, the next confirmed step is simple: the front is already over the ocean, and Chile wakes up to its impact on Friday.
