Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Rare Snowstorm Halts ALMA Telescope in Atacama Desert

7/6/2025

25 3

Summary

Story summary

A rare snowstorm has blanketed Chile's Atacama Desert, bringing operations at the ALMA telescope array to a standstill. This unexpected weather, driven by unusual atmospheric shifts, has triggered extreme weather alerts. As climate change looms, the future of this vital observatory hangs in the balance, sparking worries about its ability to withstand such unprecedented events.

1 of 1

Story summary

A rare snowstorm has blanketed Chile's Atacama Desert, bringing operations at the ALMA telescope array to a standstill. This unexpected weather, driven by unusual atmospheric shifts, has triggered extreme weather alerts. As climate change looms, the future of this vital observatory hangs in the balance, sparking worries about its ability to withstand such unprecedented events.