Chile to Experience Intense Rainfall Up to 120 Millimeters This Week

Chile will face a meteorologically active week with two frontal systems and a cold air phenomenon bringing significant precipitation, snow, and wind across multiple regions. According to forecasters, rainfall accumulation could reach between 100 and 120 millimeters in certain areas, particularly toward the south and Patagonia. The central zone is expected to largely escape the most intense rainfall, though snow may fall in cordillera sectors, with rain ruled out for Santiago in the short term.

Precipitation will begin arriving Wednesday, June 17, starting in the cordillera of Antofagasta, Atacama, and Coquimbo regions, where low temperatures will favor snowfall at higher elevations. Instability is expected to extend through the cordillera from southern Tarapacá to Maule, with the most significant rainfall concentrated between Atacama and Coquimbo. The austral zone will be affected from Wednesday, with precipitation expected in Magallanes and portions of Aysén in a rapid weather event lasting until Thursday morning.

A second and more powerful frontal system will arrive Friday, June 19, bringing wind gusts up to 80 kilometers per hour in Patagonia sectors, alongside rain and snow in the southern cordillera. During Friday evening and night, the front will reach southern regions with intense showers affecting Arauco province, the foothills of La Araucanía, and coastal cordillera areas in Los Lagos. Snowfall could persist until Saturday morning, June 20, with showers losing intensity that day, though some precipitation may continue in the south through early Sunday, June 21.

The end of the week will bring a notable temperature drop as a cold air mass arrives, potentially causing local frost in central zone areas during morning hours, marking the beginning of winter with significant atmospheric instability.