New cold front in Chile: up to 75 mm of rain in Santiago and how to prepare for power outages

A new cold front is hitting the area between Coquimbo and Los Lagos from Monday 19 October. Santiago expects 45 to 75 millimetres of rain over the whole event, which would last until Thursday 22. Tuesday 20 should be the most intense day, with 25 to 35 mm in the capital alone, according to Chilean Meteorological Office (DMC) forecaster Cristóbal Torres, quoted by La Tercera.

Authorities describe it as very similar to the storm of Tuesday 13 October, which left more than 60,000 customers without power across the country. The national disaster agency, Senapred, declared a red alert for landslide risk in 10 municipalities of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, where Tuesday classes were cancelled. For households, the practical risk is the same as last week: trees and branches falling on power lines and outages that can last hours.

The forecast includes rain, hail, thunderstorms, strong wind and snow in the Andes. The peak is expected on Tuesday afternoon, especially in the valley and foothill areas of Santiago, according to the DMC information reported by La Tercera.

The municipalities with classes suspended on Tuesday are San José de Maipo, Puente Alto, Pirque, La Florida, Peñalolén, La Reina, Las Condes, Lo Barnechea, Vitacura and Colina. Three security perimeters with restricted traffic were also set up: San Carlos de Apoquindo in Las Condes, the Valle Hermoso and El Sueño de Todos settlements in Puente Alto, and the Ribera del Río area in Talagante.

The previous event helps size up the electrical risk. The cold front of Tuesday 13 October left more than 60,000 customers without power nationwide, 38,000 of them in the Metropolitan Region, according to the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) report cited by Senapred. The hardest-hit municipalities were Quilicura (7,782 customers) and Lampa (6,396). The details of that event and how to file a claim are in our article on power outages from the storm.

During earlier cold fronts in 2026, the SEC ordered distribution and transmission companies to reinforce repair crews, keep their customer channels running and report outages promptly, with a focus on electricity-dependent patients, as Reporte Minero reported in July. At the time of writing, no specific instruction had been published for this event.

On top of any storm-related outages, there is planned work. Enel announced scheduled power cuts for Monday 19 October in seven municipalities of the Metropolitan Region, lasting up to eight hours, according to Meganoticias. The cuts affect only some areas of each municipality, so it is worth checking the utility's map for your exact address.

The most useful preparation happens before Tuesday's rain arrives. These steps reduce losses and risks if the power goes out:

• Charge phones and power banks on Monday. A 10,000 mAh power bank recharges a phone about twice.
• Keep torches at hand, not candles: candles are a common cause of house fires during outages.
• Do not open the fridge if the power goes out: closed, it stays cold for several hours.
• Unplug sensitive equipment (computer, TV, router) to avoid damage when power returns.
• Stay away from fallen cables and report them to the utility and the emergency services; do not try to move them.
• If someone at home depends on medical equipment, make sure they are on the utility's electricity-dependent register and have a backup plan.

If the outage drags on, backup is possible. A portable power station can keep lights, a router and phones running for hours; we explain it in the emergency solar kit for power outages. For a night without electricity, we also gathered ideas in what to do during a power outage.

If you lose power, first report it to your distribution company (Enel, CGE or another) through its website, app or phone line, and keep the claim number. If the outage drags on or the company does not respond, you can file a claim with the SEC at sec.cl. The SEC also keeps an online register of customers without power by municipality.

Chile's General Electricity Services Law sets an automatic compensation: for unauthorised outages, the utility must credit the bill with twice the value of the energy not supplied. It is a small amount for outages of a few hours. After the July 2026 storm, CGE and Chilquinta also offered CLP 40,000 to customers who lost food, without receipts, a voluntary payment that is not guaranteed for every event.

A good habit after every storm is to check your next bill: the legal compensation shows up as a credit. If you do not see it and your outage was recorded, you can ask the utility for an explanation.

How long will it rain in Santiago with the new cold front?

According to the DMC, rain starts on Monday 19 and lasts until Thursday 22 October, peaking on Tuesday 20 in the afternoon.

How much rain will fall in Santiago?

Between 45 and 75 mm over the whole event, with 25 to 35 mm on Tuesday.

Where were classes cancelled?

San José de Maipo, Puente Alto, Pirque, La Florida, Peñalolén, La Reina, Las Condes, Lo Barnechea, Vitacura and Colina, on Tuesday 20 October.

How do I file a claim for a power outage in Chile?

First with your utility, keeping the claim number. If that fails, with the SEC at sec.cl.

Will I be compensated for a power outage?

Yes. The law requires an automatic bill credit of twice the value of the energy not supplied. Additional payments are voluntary for each company.