The Mendoza mountain range is facing an intense snowstorm that could extend until early August. Although the province is going through a severe drought —with water availability lower than in the last two years and below historical averages—, the accumulation of snow in the high mountains generates hopes for the next water period.
Specialists clarify that, although this event will help mitigate the water deficit, it will not be enough on its own to reverse the crisis: new snowfalls of similar magnitude will be needed to reach normal values.
Heavy snowfalls in Mendoza
The snowfall began in the early hours of July 15. In some high mountain areas, accumulations of up to three meters were recorded, forcing the evacuation of about 50 people due to extreme conditions.
Maximiliano Viale, a researcher at the IANIGLA (Argentine Institute of Snow Research, Glaciology, and Environmental Sciences), highlighted the magnitude of the phenomenon:
“We had an extreme snowfall in 2024, but it mainly affected the southern part of the province. In contrast, this event covers both the northern Mendoza mountain range and that of San Juan. It had been many years since such a significant storm occurred in this area.”
The impact of the El Niño phenomenon
According to Viale, the storm is directly associated with the El Niño phenomenon, characterized by the anomalous warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This event creates an atmospheric corridor that allows the constant passage of bad weather systems towards the mountain range.
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Duration: The snowfalls will alternate with brief windows of good weather until August 2.
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Dynamics: The process does not involve consecutive days of uninterrupted snow, but rather the successive arrival of cold fronts of varying intensity.
Prospects for water availability
In October 2025, the General Department of Irrigation presented the Runoff Forecast (2025-2026), revealing worrying data: the accumulated snow represented only 20% of a normal year.
In light of this scenario, the current storm provides key relief:
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Partial relief: Viale confirmed that these extraordinary snowfalls are typical of years under the influence of El Niño and help curb the impact of the drought, but emphasized that more accumulation is required to reverse the deficit.
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Favorable projection: International forecasts indicate that El Niño will reach its greatest intensity during the spring, which could trigger late snowfalls and ensure a greater water reserve for the summer.
