Aviation weather in South America

The Andes generate wave and severe mechanical turbulence beside some of the world’s highest airports, while the subtropical plain produces intense summer convection and the region carries a live volcanic ash risk.

At a glance

Main hazards Thunderstorms, Mountain wave, Low visibility, Turbulence, Volcanic ash
Most demanding season November – March
Thunderstorm season November – March
Representative airports SBGR · SAEZ · SCEL · SKBO · SPJC
Official sources REDEMET (Brazil) · Buenos Aires VAAC — volcanic ash

The services linked above are the authoritative source for this region. This page explains what their reports contain; it is not a substitute for an official briefing.

What these hazards mean

Thunderstorms Cumulonimbus cells carrying severe turbulence, hail, lightning and downdraughts; avoided laterally, never flown through.
Mountain wave Wind over a ridge sets up standing waves and rotor beneath them — severe turbulence and sustained up- or downdraughts far from the terrain.
Low visibility Fog, mist, haze, dust or heavy precipitation cutting visibility below the minimum for the approach in use.
Turbulence Clear-air, mechanical or convective. The clear-air kind gives no visual warning and is why the seatbelt sign stays on in cruise.
Volcanic ash Ash melts in the engine core and flames it out. VAAC advisories, not the METAR, are the source that matters.

METAR decoder

Paste a raw observation and read it in plain language. It runs in your browser — the report never leaves your device, and nothing is stored.

Works with ICAO reports and with the North American SM / inHg variant.

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Last updated 2026-08-09 by aviationwheater.siten.co · About us

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