Technical alert criteria
How AlertaParques determines trail status and what each alert level means.
Supplementary system, not official
AlertaParques is an automated supplementary weather monitoring system. The thresholds used are based on international technical references (UIAA, DMC) and have not been formally validated by CONAF, SERNAGEOMIN, or any official Chilean authority. When in doubt, always consult official communications from CONAF and SERNAGEOMIN.
Alert levels
Green — Normal conditions
All weather variables are within safe ranges for the indicated activity. It is still recommended to carry appropriate gear and monitor the forecast.
Yellow — Caution
One or more variables are approaching levels that may pose a risk. It is recommended to evaluate the activity, prepare for sudden changes, and stay close to evacuation routes.
Red — Danger
One or more variables exceed safety thresholds. It is recommended not to enter the trail or to evacuate if already inside. Consult with the park ranger before making any decision.
Thresholds by variable
Thresholds vary by elevation and trail difficulty. Values shown correspond to moderate-difficulty trails at 1,000–2,000 m a.s.l. For high-altitude and extreme trails, thresholds are more restrictive.
| Variable | Caution | Danger | Reference source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustained wind | ≥ 55 km/h | ≥ 80 km/h | UIAA / DMC |
| Wind gusts | ≥ 65 km/h | ≥ 90 km/h | UIAA |
| Precipitation | ≥ 10 mm/h | ≥ 20 mm/h | DMC Chile |
| Snowfall | ≥ 5 cm/h | ≥ 15 cm/h | UIAA |
| Visibility | < 1,000 m | < 200 m | UIAA / IFMGA |
| Temperature + wind | < -5°C with > 25 km/h | < -10°C with > 40 km/h | UIAA (windchill) |
* For high-altitude trails (> 2,500 m a.s.l.) and extreme difficulty, caution thresholds are reduced by 20–30%.
Weather data source
Open-Meteo
Free weather API based on high-resolution forecast models (ICON, GFS, ERA5). Updated hourly. Spatial resolution of 1–11 km depending on the region.
Conditions are retrieved using the geographic coordinates of each trail's starting point, not from physical weather stations installed on the ground. This means that in areas with complex topography, there may be differences between the forecast and actual conditions.
Technical references
Are you a mountaineering or meteorology expert?
If you have technical knowledge in mountain safety and want to help improve the alert criteria, reach out. AlertaParques is an open project and any technical contribution is welcome.
alertaparques@gmail.com →