In August 2026, northern Chile’s Atacama Desert experienced rare and widespread snowfall following back-to-back winter storms, turning the usually arid desert white from the Andes to near the Pacific coast. These unusual weather events affected astronomical facilities and caused significant flooding impacts in the region.
- Snowfall covered the Atacama from the Andes to the Pacific coast.
- Major observatories halted operations due to weather conditions.
- Heavy rain and flooding affected northern Chilean communities.
What happened
In August 2026, northern Chile's Atacama Desert witnessed a rare natural phenomenon as back-to-back winter storms dumped snowfall across a broad swath of this normally hyper-arid region. The storms originated from a cutoff low-pressure system that detached from a large atmospheric trough stretching across South America. This unusual weather pattern brought moisture from the coast inland, resulting in snow and rain over an area extending from the Andes mountains to near the Pacific shoreline, including the desert’s core.
Satellite images from NASA’s Landsat 8 and Landsat 9, as well as the MODIS instrument aboard the Terra satellite, documented these events, showing snow accumulation not only on the high-altitude Chajnantor plateau but also reaching close to the Pacific coast. The precipitation levels in some coastal towns like Taltal were approximately 10 times their typical annual rainfall. This exceptional influx of moisture also caused mudflows and flash floods that affected thousands of people and damaged many homes in northern Chile.
Why it feels good
Witnessing snowfall in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on the planet, reminds us of nature’s unpredictability and the interconnectedness of Earth’s climate systems. The unusual snow and rain are a striking demonstration of how atmospheric shifts, like the ongoing El Niño, can bring unexpected moisture to the region, potentially replenishing dry soils and influencing local ecosystems.
Additionally, the event provides valuable scientific opportunities. Major astronomical observatories—including the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)—temporarily paused observations to protect delicate instruments, highlighting the careful balance between Earth’s extreme environments and advanced scientific research. This rare weather event underscores the importance of continuous monitoring through satellites to understand these dynamic changes.
What to enjoy or watch next
Keep an eye on ongoing weather patterns in the southern hemisphere, especially the influences of El Niño and atmospheric pressure systems that could bring more unusual precipitation to typically dry regions like northern Chile. These events may become more frequent or intense with changing climate conditions, offering new insights into regional weather variability.
Meanwhile, the research community will be closely studying the impacts of this snowfall on local ecology, water availability, and astronomy operations. Follow updates from NASA’s Earth Observatory and Chilean scientific institutions for new findings and vivid satellite imagery capturing Earth’s remarkable changes.