Fresh snow on the Andes in June 2026

Between 10 and 11 June 2026, a major winter storm brought significant snowfall to high-altitude sections of the Andes along the Argentina–Chile border, marking one of the first major snow events of the austral winter season. The severe weather created hazardous travel conditions and may have led to temporary restrictions or closures at some mountain border crossings.

These images, acquired by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 7 June 2026 and 11 June 2026, show the Andes before and after the snowfall event. The left image shows limited snow cover across the mountain ridges north and east of Santiago, while cloud cover is visible over parts of Argentina. In contrast, the right image shows extensive snow cover across the Andes after the snowfall event.

Snow accumulation in the Andes is an important seasonal indicator as this mountain range serves as a major water reserve for downstream ecosystems, agriculture, and urban areas. 

The Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites provide wide-area observations which support the monitoring of snow cover, land surface conditions, and seasonal.