snowingplaces

Ski resort in Valparaíso, Chile

Portillo

A long-established Chilean resort beside Laguna del Inca, near the Argentine border, which hosted the 1966 World Championships.

Forecast updated , when it was 10:00 in Portillo (GMT-3).

Portillo snow forecast at 3,310 m (top lift)

Next 24 hours on the upper mountain

No snow in the next 24 hours.

Snow arrives on Saturday, with 30–90 cm over the next 7 days.

Medium confidence, one model shows some snow

No snow is forecast for Portillo at the top lift (3,310 m / 10,900 ft) in the next 24 hours, but 30–90 cm (11–35 in) is forecast over the next 7 days, starting today. All three weather models we compare forecast snow this week. Expect temperatures from −4 to 4 °C (25 to 39 °F), the freezing level near 3,750 m (12,300 ft) and gusts up to 47 km/h (29 mph) over the next day.

Temperature now
2 °C (36 °F)
Freezing level
3,750 m (12,300 ft)
Wind
7 km/h (4 mph), gusts 17 km/h (11 mph)

Portillo hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall

No rain or snow on the upper mountain in Portillo in the next 24 hours.

Portillo 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

DayWeatherSnowfall
TodayLight snow−2 to 4 °C (28 to 39 °F) · freezing level 3,500 m (11,500 ft)0–4 cm (0–2 in)
SatSnow−4 to 2 °C (25 to 36 °F) · gusts 47 km/h (29 mph) · freezing level 3,250 m (10,700 ft)5–25 cm (2–10 in)
SunSnow−6 to −3 °C (21 to 27 °F) · gusts 59 km/h (37 mph) · freezing level 2,800 m (9,200 ft)10–30 cm (5–11 in)
MonLight snow−4 to 2 °C (25 to 36 °F) · freezing level 3,350 m (11,000 ft)0–2 cm (under 1 in)
TueChance of snow−2 to 3 °C (28 to 37 °F) · freezing level 3,550 m (11,600 ft)0–5 cm (0–2 in)
WedSnow−3 to 0 °C (27 to 32 °F) · gusts 42 km/h (26 mph) · freezing level 3,250 m (10,700 ft)0–20 cm (0–7 in)
ThuSnow−4 to −1 °C (25 to 30 °F) · gusts 49 km/h (30 mph) · freezing level 3,150 m (10,300 ft)0–25 cm (0–8 in)

Portillo 14-day snow outlook, on the upper mountain

Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.

DayWeatherSnowfall
Fri 25 SepChance of snow−4 to 0 °C (25 to 32 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–15 cm (0–5 in)
Sat 26 SepChance of snow−3 to 3 °C (27 to 37 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–2 cm (under 1 in)
Sun 27 SepDry−2 to 4 °C (28 to 39 °F)No snow
Mon 28 SepChance of snow−6 to 1 °C (21 to 34 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–3 cm (under 1 in)
Tue 29 SepDry−6 to 4 °C (21 to 39 °F)No snow
Wed 30 SepChance of snow−3 to 2 °C (27 to 36 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–2 cm (under 1 in)
Thu 1 OctSnow−4 to 0 °C (25 to 32 °F) · 2 of 2 models show snow5–20 cm (3–8 in)

How much snow is there in Portillo on the upper mountain?

About 94 cm (37 in)

This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.

Where is Portillo?

Country
Chile
Mountains
Andes
Village
2,800 m
Top lift
3,310 m
Vertical
510 m
Lifts
14
Season
Mid-June to Early October
Airports
Santiago (SCL)

About Portillo

Portillo began as a station on the Transandine Railway in 1908 and became a ski area in 1949. It sits beside Laguna del Inca, close to the Paso Los Libertadores crossing into Argentina, and about 160 km from Santiago.

The resort hosted the 1966 Alpine World Ski Championships. It has 35 slopes across 500 hectares, and the season usually runs from mid-June to early October.

When does it snow in Portillo?

In Portillo, snow falls on about 10 days in June in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from March to January.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Portillo at mid-mountain, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
3 days2 days3 days5 days8 days10 days6 days8 days6 days8 days7 days4 days

Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Snow in Portillo month by month

Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall and temperature by month in Portillo, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January33%5 to 14 °C (41 to 57 °F)
February22%6 to 15 °C (43 to 59 °F)
March32%5 to 14 °C (41 to 57 °F)
April56%1 to 10 °C (34 to 50 °F)
May811%−3 to 4 °C (27 to 39 °F)
June1022%−6 to 0 °C (21 to 32 °F)
July611%−6 to 0 °C (21 to 32 °F)
August813%−6 to 1 °C (21 to 34 °F)
September610%−4 to 3 °C (25 to 37 °F)
October89%−3 to 4 °C (27 to 39 °F)
November78%−1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F)
December43%3 to 12 °C (37 to 54 °F)

Snow in Portillo in December

In December, Portillo gets snow on about 4 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 3% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 3 to 12 °C (37 to 54 °F).

Snow in Portillo in January

In January, Portillo gets snow on about 3 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 3% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 5 to 14 °C (41 to 57 °F).

Snow in Portillo in March

In March, Portillo gets snow on about 3 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 2% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 5 to 14 °C (41 to 57 °F).

Snow in Portillo in April

In April, Portillo gets snow on about 5 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 6% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 1 to 10 °C (34 to 50 °F).

Snow in Portillo in May

In May, Portillo gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 11% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −3 to 4 °C (27 to 39 °F).

Snow in Portillo in June

In June, Portillo gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 22% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −6 to 0 °C (21 to 32 °F).

Snow in Portillo in July

In July, Portillo gets snow on about 6 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 11% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −6 to 0 °C (21 to 32 °F).

Snow in Portillo in August

In August, Portillo gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −6 to 1 °C (21 to 34 °F).

Snow in Portillo in September

In September, Portillo gets snow on about 6 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −4 to 3 °C (25 to 37 °F).

Snow in Portillo in October

In October, Portillo gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −3 to 4 °C (27 to 39 °F).

Snow in Portillo in November

In November, Portillo gets snow on about 7 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 8% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Portillo?

Of the last ten winters in Portillo, 2023 was the snowiest, about 58% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2019, about 50% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 23 June 2023.

Snowfall in Portillo for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
201685% of average
2017105% of average
2018107% of average
201950% of average
202086% of average
202188% of average
2022102% of average
2023158% of average
2024124% of average
202595% of average

Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.

Questions about snow in Portillo

Does Portillo have snow in mid-July?

Portillo had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 12 July in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 5 to 18 July in 7 of those years.

How many days a year does it snow in Portillo?

It snows on about 69 days a year in Portillo at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. June has the most, about 10 days.

What is the snowiest month in Portillo?

June is the snowiest month in Portillo, bringing about 22% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.

Which recent winter was the snowiest in Portillo?

Of the last ten winters in Portillo, 2023 was the snowiest, about 58% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2019, about 50% below average.

How cold does Portillo get in winter?

June is the coldest month in Portillo at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −6 °C (21 °F) and highs of 0 °C (32 °F).

How high is Portillo?

The village or lowest lift at Portillo is at 2,800 m (9,200 ft) and the top lift is at 3,310 m (10,900 ft), a vertical drop of 510 m (1,700 ft).

When does the ski season start in Portillo?

The lifts at Portillo usually open in mid-June and close in early October. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.

Snow forecasts near Portillo

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of PortilloValle Nevado, about 60 km away, 35–55 cm this week; Santiago, about 80 km away, out of season.50 km100 km150 kmNValle Nevado: 35–55 cm this weekSantiago: Out of seasonValle NevadoSantiagoPortillo
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
Valle NevadoSki resort, about 60 km away35–55 cm this weekSantiagoCity, about 80 km awayOut of seasonLas LeñasSki resort, about 260 km away50–110 cm this week

Sources: Ski Portillo slopes and skiable terrain, Ski Portillo transportation service, Wikipedia