The Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC) forecast thunderstorms for eight regions between the afternoon of this Sunday, October 11, and the night of Tuesday, October 13. The phenomenon could stretch from Norte Chico to the south-central part of the country.
According to Cooperativa, the regions included in the forecast are Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Metropolitan, O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble and Biobío. The cause is atmospheric instability that will persist through the beginning of the week.
In addition to lightning and thunder, the DMC warned that the storms could be accompanied by hailstorms and strong localized wind gusts. The duration and distribution of the event will vary by region.
In Atacama, lightning activity is expected only this Sunday. The forecast covers the coast, the coastal mountain range, valleys, plains, foothills and mountains.
In Coquimbo, the episode would last longer. Storms could develop between Sunday and Tuesday, October 13, mainly in the foothills, foothill valleys and mountains.
In Valparaíso, the areas affected could change from day to day. On Sunday, the storms would mainly affect the mountains, foothills and foothill valleys. On Monday, October 12, they would spread to much of the region, including the coast and the coastal mountain range.
For Tuesday, October 13, the probability of storms in Valparaíso would persist in the coastal mountain range, foothills, foothill valleys and mountains.
In the Metropolitan Region, the DMC expects lightning activity this Sunday in valley, foothill and mountain areas. On Monday, these conditions could also reach the coastal mountain range.
In O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble and Biobío, the available information does not specify the areas or days in which the storms would be concentrated. The sources consulted also do not include recommendations from the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) for this event.
The forecast comes shortly after the debris flow in Las Condes, which reopened the debate over the weather radar network that the DMC has had pending since 2019. The event could continue until the night of Tuesday, October 13, according to the agency's advisory.
