A major winter storm is expected in the next few days to impact observatory operations. All NOIRLab facilities on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachón are preparing for shutdown. Cerro Pachón will be evacuated later today and we expect to return to the summit no earlier than Monday.
Folks, we had a rough weekend on the summit and in the region of Coquimbo generally.
As of this morning, our access road is cut at the bottom near the main highway from La Serena. We are mobilizing with NOIRLab to assess the state of affairs.
In La Serena-Coquimbo, municipal water is off in parts of the cities owing to the muddy waters entering the water plants. There are other emergency issues happening typical of any major event like this.
We will keep you posted as we learn more. We will be off sky for days at a mimimum.
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