Weather for the Balcón del Pissis trip
Forecast at three points of the route, from the KM 0 checkpoint up to the viewpoint at over 4,500 m. In the Andes the weather changes within hours: check the whole route, not just Fiambalá.
Today: Not recommended
There is a real risk of getting stranded. Don't go up, even if the morning looks fine.
- Whiteout risk at Road and Balcón del Pissis: snow on the ground and gusts strong enough to lift it and cover the track.
- Snowfall at Road and Balcón del Pissis.
- Extreme wind at Road (gusts of 90 km/h or more).
None of the next days looks advisable.
Next days
TodayNot recommendedSnow showers-11 °C / -6 °CGusts 98 km/hNew snow 8 cm
- Whiteout risk at Road and Balcón del Pissis: snow on the ground and gusts strong enough to lift it and cover the track.
- Snowfall at Road and Balcón del Pissis.
- Extreme wind at Road (gusts of 90 km/h or more).
- KM 0 checkpoint
- 0 °C / 8 °C · Feels like -4 °C · Gusts 84 km/h (strongest gust around 16:00) · Snow on the ground 1 cm
- Road
- -9 °C / -5 °C · Feels like -17 °C · Gusts 98 km/h (strongest gust around 22:00) · Snow on the ground 25 cm
- Balcón del Pissis
- -11 °C / -6 °C · Feels like -17 °C · Gusts 57 km/h (strongest gust around 13:00) · Snow on the ground 37 cm
5 MondayNot recommendedSnow-11 °C / -3 °CGusts 113 km/hNew snow 1 cm
- Whiteout risk at KM 0 checkpoint, Road and Balcón del Pissis: snow on the ground and gusts strong enough to lift it and cover the track.
- Extreme wind at Road (gusts of 90 km/h or more).
- KM 0 checkpoint
- 0 °C / 12 °C · Feels like -4 °C · Gusts 67 km/h (strongest gust around 17:00) · Snow on the ground 1 cm
- Road
- -7 °C / -2 °C · Feels like -17 °C · Gusts 113 km/h (strongest gust around 7:00) · Snow on the ground 26 cm
- Balcón del Pissis
- -11 °C / -3 °C · Feels like -16 °C · Gusts 57 km/h (strongest gust around 6:00) · Snow on the ground 38 cm
6 TuesdayNot recommendedSnow showers-6 °C / -2 °CGusts 85 km/hNew snow 1 cm
- Whiteout risk at KM 0 checkpoint, Road and Balcón del Pissis: snow on the ground and gusts strong enough to lift it and cover the track.
- KM 0 checkpoint
- 5 °C / 13 °C · Feels like 0 °C · Gusts 83 km/h (strongest gust around 4:00)
- Road
- -7 °C / -1 °C · Feels like -12 °C · Gusts 85 km/h (strongest gust around 1:00) · Snow on the ground 27 cm
- Balcón del Pissis
- -6 °C / -2 °C · Feels like -12 °C · Gusts 68 km/h (strongest gust around 18:00) · Snow on the ground 39 cm
7 WednesdayNot recommendedCloudy-11 °C / -4 °CGusts 76 km/hNew snow 0.2 cm
- Whiteout risk at Road and Balcón del Pissis: snow on the ground and gusts strong enough to lift it and cover the track.
- KM 0 checkpoint
- 4 °C / 12 °C · Feels like 0 °C · Gusts 59 km/h (strongest gust around 14:00)
- Road
- -9 °C / -3 °C · Feels like -15 °C · Gusts 65 km/h (strongest gust around 15:00) · Snow on the ground 27 cm
- Balcón del Pissis
- -11 °C / -4 °C · Feels like -16 °C · Gusts 76 km/h (strongest gust around 14:00) · Snow on the ground 38 cm
8 ThursdayNot recommendedCloudy-12 °C / -3 °CGusts 75 km/h
- Whiteout risk at Road and Balcón del Pissis: snow on the ground and gusts strong enough to lift it and cover the track.
- KM 0 checkpoint
- 2 °C / 11 °C · Feels like -1 °C · Gusts 52 km/h (strongest gust around 16:00)
- Road
- -11 °C / -2 °C · Feels like -16 °C · Gusts 75 km/h (strongest gust around 16:00) · Snow on the ground 27 cm
- Balcón del Pissis
- -12 °C / -3 °C · Feels like -17 °C · Gusts 75 km/h (strongest gust around 16:00) · Snow on the ground 38 cm
At each point, right now
Checkpoint
KM 0 checkpoint
6 °C
Cloudy
- Feels like
- 1 °C
- Wind
- 17 km/h
- Gusts
- 73 km/h
- Snow on the ground
- 1 cm
- Elevation
- 3,299 m
Midway
Road
-6 °C
Snow
- Feels like
- -14 °C
- Wind
- 34 km/h
- Gusts
- 87 km/h
- Snow on the ground
- 25 cm
- Elevation
- 4,241 m
Viewpoint
Balcón del Pissis
-7 °C
Snow
- Feels like
- -12 °C
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Gusts
- 38 km/h
- Snow on the ground
- 36 cm
- Elevation
- 4,528 m
Forecast updated at 08:05 PM · Data: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0)
This is a numerical model forecast, not an on-site observation, and it can be wrong, especially in the mountains. It does not replace the authorities or the guides.
KM 0 checkpoint
Access to Balcón del Pissis and the high Andean lagoons goes through the KM 0 checkpoint, run by the Municipality of Fiambalá. It reopened on Saturday, September 26, 2026, after the preventive winter closure.
Only 4x4 vehicles are allowed. Tour operators and vehicles carrying passengers must show at the checkpoint:
- Valid vehicle technical inspection (VTV).
- Valid insurance covering passenger transport.
- Complete first aid kit.
- Licensed guide card.
- Valid driver's license for the vehicle category.
- Snow chains and the required high-altitude equipment.
- Valid, regulation fire extinguisher.
- Service fee: ARS 20,000 per vehicle (as of September 2026).
If any requirement is missing, entry is denied. The road may be closed at any time due to weather or road conditions: always follow the checkpoint staff's instructions.
Whiteout: the danger you can't see in the morning
In July 2026 more than 120 tourists got stranded on the way to Balcón del Pissis. It wasn't snowing that day and the morning was calm, but there was snow from the previous days. In the afternoon strong wind picked it up again and covered the track. It took heavy machinery and two days to get everyone out.
That's why this page doesn't only check whether it will snow: if there is snow on the ground and strong gusts are forecast, the day shows red even under clear skies.
Before you go
- Always check at the KM 0 checkpoint: they may close the road even if the forecast looks fine.
- Leave early and plan to be back by early afternoon: on the puna the wind usually picks up after midday.
- Go with a licensed guide in a 4x4. Bring extra warm clothes, water, food and fuel.
- There is no phone signal in the mountains. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.