Chile braces for extreme rainfall: Coquimbo to double annual precipitation in four days

Chile's Meteorological Directorate (DMC) has issued its highest level of alert, a meteorological alarm, for the Coquimbo, Valparaíso, and Metropolitan regions due to an extreme weather system expected from Thursday to Sunday. This system is predicted to deliver up to 180 millimeters of rain in the Coquimbo region.

The forecast indicates that Coquimbo could experience double its average annual rainfall within just four days. Similarly, the Metropolitan region, including Santiago, is expected to receive up to 150 millimeters, which is approximately half of its annual average precipitation, within the same short period.

Elio Bruford of the DMC described the phenomenon as a series of pulses affecting a significant portion of the national territory. The situation is particularly concerning in the northern central zone, where the projected rainfall in four days surpasses the typical twelve-month total. This extreme weather event poses a significant risk to infrastructure and daily life in the affected areas.