Chile's National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) warned on Friday 13 November 2026 of high temperatures in seven regions and of the risk of floods and landslides in the Andes caused by snowmelt. The Chilean Meteorological Office (DMC) has an extreme heat alert for Saturday 14 in La Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos, and a high-temperature warning from Tarapacá to Coquimbo, Cooperativa reported.
For anyone travelling this weekend there are four hot spots: the heat in the south, the Aconcagua River in the Valparaíso Region, the Cristo Redentor pass to Mendoza and Última Esperanza province, the gateway to Torres del Paine. On Sunday the weather also turns in south-central Chile, with rain and thunderstorms. Here is each alert, its source and what to do.
This weekend's extreme heat alerts in Chile
View the data as a table
| Regions under a heat alert or warning | 7 |
| Expected high in the south on Saturday | 31 °C |
| High in Última Esperanza on Sunday | 23 °C |
| Possible rain in south-central Chile from Sunday | 100 mm |
The DMC alert for Saturday 14 forecasts highs of 29-31 °C in the valley and foothills of La Araucanía and in the Los Ríos foothills, including the city of Valdivia, and 28-30 °C in the Los Lagos foothills. The event would start overnight and peak in the afternoon, according to the details published by Central Noticia. Some models show up to 33 °C in parts of Biobío and La Araucanía.
| Area | Alert type | Expected temperature | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Araucanía (valley and foothills) | Extreme heat alert, Saturday 14 | 29-31 °C | DMC via Central Noticia |
| Los Ríos (foothills and Valdivia) | Extreme heat alert, Saturday 14 | 29-31 °C | DMC via Central Noticia |
| Los Lagos (foothills) | Extreme heat alert, Saturday 14 | 28-30 °C | DMC via Central Noticia |
| Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo | High temperature warning, until Saturday 14 | No single figure published | Senapred via Cooperativa |
| Última Esperanza, Laguna Blanca, San Gregorio and Primavera | Early Preventive Alert; heat warning on Sunday 15 | 19-23 °C | Senapred via OvejeroNoticias |
Senapred advises staying out of the sun between 11 am and 5 pm, drinking water before you feel thirsty, using SPF 50+ sunscreen and never leaving people or pets inside a car. Earlier this week we covered the heat and wildfire risk and the preventive heat alert in force until March 2027.
Aconcagua River flooding: Yellow Alert in Los Andes and San Esteban
In the Valparaíso Region, Senapred keeps a Yellow Alert for possible flooding of the Aconcagua River in Los Andes and San Esteban, and an Early Preventive Alert for San Felipe de Aconcagua province and the towns of Quillota, Limache, Concón and Quintero, according to G5noticias. Senapred's regional director, Christian Cardemil, said both alerts respond to higher river flows over the last few days.
The official advice is to stay away from riverbanks, streams and ravines, not to cross swollen channels and to limit recreational activities in those areas. That includes riverside picnics, unauthorised rafting and hikes up ravines in the Aconcagua valley. Water levels can rise within hours when temperatures climb at altitude.
| La Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos (valley and foothills) | Extreme heat alert | Saturday 14 |
| Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo | High temperature warning | Until Saturday 14 |
| Los Andes and San Esteban | Yellow Alert for Aconcagua River flooding | In force since 12-13 Nov |
| San Felipe province, Quillota, Limache, Concón and Quintero | Early Preventive Alert for the Aconcagua | In force |
| Última Esperanza (Natales, Torres del Paine), Laguna Blanca, San Gregorio and Primavera | Early Preventive Alert for heat | From Saturday 14; heat warning on Sunday 15 |
| Cristo Redentor Pass (Los Libertadores) | Open 24 hours after a mudslide | Since Friday 13 |
Cristo Redentor pass: reopened after a mudslide
Snowmelt also hit the road to Mendoza. On Thursday night, a sudden melt swept mud, rocks and water onto Argentina's National Route 7 between Villa Las Cuevas and the Argentine toll plaza, and a truck got stuck at kilometre 1,228. Access was controlled at Uspallata and at Guardia Vieja, on the Chilean side, while the road was cleared, Diario Mendoza reported.
Traffic returned to normal in both directions on Friday morning, with a warning about water on the road. On Saturday 14 the Cristo Redentor Integrated System remained open 24 hours for cars, buses and trucks, and the Pehuenche pass operated from 8 am to 8 pm, according to El Cuco Digital. Check the official status before setting off; in October we explained how it reopened after the snowfalls.
Heat in Torres del Paine and Última Esperanza on Sunday
In Magallanes, the DMC issued a high-temperature warning for Sunday 15 in Torres del Paine, Natales, Laguna Blanca, San Gregorio and Primavera, with highs of 19-23 °C. Based on that forecast, Senapred declared an Early Preventive Alert for Última Esperanza province and those three districts, OvejeroNoticias reported.
Those are high temperatures for Patagonia and they coincide with the start of the high season. The main risk in the park is fire: lighting fires outside designated areas is forbidden, and the park has already launched its wildfire plan with 195 rangers. Carry water, sunscreen and a hat even if the day starts windy.
From extreme heat to rain: the forecast from Sunday
On Sunday 15 the picture changes in south-central Chile. A cut-off low would bring showers and thunderstorms from Ñuble to Los Ríos, with gusts of up to 70 km/h on the Ñuble and Biobío coast and totals that could approach 100 mm in the foothills by Friday 20, according to Meteored. In the Santiago Metropolitan Region only early-morning drizzle is expected, says Megatiempo.
- Thu 12, nightMud and rocks on Argentina's Route 7A truck is trapped near Las Cuevas.
- Fri 13, morningCristo Redentor reopens both ways
- Sat 14Extreme heat in the southUp to 31 °C in La Araucanía and Los Ríos.
- Sun 15Heat in Última Esperanza and rain in south-central Chile19-23 °C in Natales and Torres del Paine; storms from Ñuble to Los Ríos.
- Mon 16-Fri 20Unsettled weekShowers in the south-central foothills.
| If you're going to… | What to expect | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pucón, Villarrica or the Lake District | Heat on Saturday, rain and storms from Sunday | Do outdoor activities early on Saturday; check the forecast before heading into the mountains |
| Aconcagua valley and Los Andes | Yellow Alert for river flooding | Avoid riverbanks; do not cross swollen streams |
| Mendoza via Cristo Redentor | Pass open 24 hours, drive with care | Check its status before leaving and carry water and warm clothes |
| Torres del Paine and Puerto Natales | Up to 23 °C on Sunday | Water, sunscreen and no fire at all |
| Far north and Norte Chico | Heat warning until Saturday | Avoid midday sun in the desert |
Alerts change quickly. Check the official channels of Senapred and the Chilean Meteorological Office before you go, and if you receive an Emergency Alert System (SAE) message on your phone, follow the instructions immediately. Snowmelt floods already hit the north this week, as we reported on the alerts in the Elqui valley and Atacama.
Frequently asked questions
Which regions have a heat alert on Saturday 14 November?
The DMC has an extreme heat alert for La Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos, and a high-temperature warning for Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo: seven regions in total.
Is the Cristo Redentor pass open?
Yes. It reopened in both directions on Friday 13 after the mudslide and on Saturday 14 it was operating 24 hours for all vehicles, with a warning about water on the road.
Can I visit the Aconcagua River this weekend?
Senapred asks people not to approach the riverbanks or do recreational activities on the river while the Yellow Alert is in force in Los Andes and San Esteban and the preventive alert applies downstream.
What will the weather be like in Torres del Paine on Sunday?
Highs of 19-23 °C are expected, so Senapred declared an Early Preventive Alert in Última Esperanza. It is a high fire-risk day: no fires, and carry water.
