During the week of February 16–22, high temperatures are expected in central Chile and rainfall in the southern part of the country, according to the Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC).
According to the agency, the week began with mostly sunny conditions across much of the country, with some scattered clouds along the coast of the Atacama Region and inland areas of the Los Lagos Region.
Starting Tuesday, a frontal system will enter the southern zone, bringing precipitation between the Los Lagos and Biobío regions, with Biobío as the northern limit, while the rest of the country will maintain stable conditions and mostly clear skies.
By Wednesday, partial cloud cover is expected in coastal areas of the Atacama Region, while inland areas will remain clear, as will the stretch between the Coquimbo and La Araucanía regions. Meanwhile, the Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions will experience morning cloudiness, with a tendency to clear in the afternoon.
The southern part of the Los Lagos Region will remain mostly cloudy throughout the day.
On Thursday, coastal cloudiness is projected between the Valparaíso Region and northern Chile, a condition that will persist for much of the day. Clear skies will dominate in central Chile, while partial cloudiness will be observed in the southern zone, gradually shifting to mostly clear skies. The southern part of the Los Lagos Region will remain cloudy.
On Friday, the coast between the Maule Region and northern Chile will begin the day with cloud cover, while inland areas will continue to experience clear skies. In the southern zone, conditions will vary between partial cloudiness and clear skies.
Over the weekend, coastal cloudiness will persist in central Chile, while in the southern zone a new frontal system is expected to arrive, which could generate light precipitation in the southern part of the Los Lagos Region.
High temperatures in central Chile
Regarding temperatures, maximums above 32 °C are forecast in the valleys of central Chile on Monday and Tuesday. Subsequently, temperatures are expected to return to normal ranges for this time of year.
However, toward the weekend, a new increase in temperatures is anticipated between the Ñuble and Biobío regions, where maximums could once again reach 32 °C. Minimum temperatures, meanwhile, will remain within normal seasonal values
The importance of technical advisory to mitigate risks
In this context, Consultora Agrícola y Comercial Santa María, CASM Blueberries, recommends that growers work closely with their technical advisors to implement timely measures that help reduce the impact of weather conditions on blueberry orchards.
Specialists emphasize that proactive management based on technical advisory is essential to protect fruit quality, safeguard orchard productive potential, and minimize potential economic losses.
