South America is off to an excellent start to the 2014 ski season with heavy snowfall reported across the continent's ski regions for the past few weeks.
Lagunillas in Chile was the first area in the entire southern hemisphere to open for the season, a week ago today, and now Valle Nevado has announced it will be opening two weeks ahead of schedule, this Friday, June 13th.
The heavy snowfall has built pre-season bases to very healthy levels at several resorts, Portillo, which has confirmed plans to open in June 21st, reports the last snow storm there, which ended on Monday, totalled 1.5m (five feet).
While El Niño weather patterns have forecasted favourable snow weather conditions for the central Andes this year, the amount of snow received in the past few weeks has exceeded expectations, and promises an even better season than previously expected.
Valle Nevado currently has nearly 90cm/three feet of snow, with more flurries predicted in the rest of this week's forecast.
Valle Nevado's hotels will remain closed until June 27, however most trails, select restaurants and other services will open for day skiers and those lodging in condominiums.