Snow Report 9 September 2014 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Spring days means plenty of sunshine! But a cold front clipped the southeast corner of Australia last week and the mountains were fortunate to receive between 5-20cms of fresh snow. This snowfall refreshed the slopes, but didn't really stop the melt as snow depths have headed below one metre as we head into the final weeks of the season.

Perisher 09.09.14 [Source: Perisher webcam]

So there has been a continuing run of very warm days leading to more snow loss through the weekend and into this week. Rain today after strong warm winds is not helping. Expect the lower slopes at most resorts to be very thin or closed. The higher areas should still be OK, especially at Falls Creek and Perisher, and we may get a little bit of fresh snow later this week.

Falls Creek (95cms) still has good skiing across Sun Valley which will keep things going through the school holidays. At Mt Hotham (91cms), with the Orchard now closed, the skiing is mainly on Heavenly Valley. At Mt Buller (80cms), the Northside of the mountain is now closed for the season. Perisher looks the best bet for late season skiing in Australia (120/50cms).


NEW ZEALAND

The groundhog days continue on the South Island with something like 300 days of fine weather and
sunshine or something! Of course I exaggerate, but the facts are New Zealand has been under this big
high pressure system also and is reaping the rewards visibility-wise (not so much in the fresh snow
stakes, however).

Mt Hutt 09.09.14 [Source: Mt Hutt FB page]

It hasn't been a great season in Canterbury, and the Southern Lakes were only saved by some good snowfalls in August. The spring skiing still has some weeks to go down south and Cardrona and The Remarks look like the places to go.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Hanmer Springs and Mt Lyford have already had to close for the season. Rainbow has amazingly somehow survived the warm weather.

Canterbury

Porters has all three T-bars still open, but skiing is very limited. Mt Hutt has the main run open
top-to-bottom, but limited off-piste.

The Mackenzie

Mt Dobson is looking to open on the weekend if snow conditions permit. Roundhill has its beginners and intermediate areas open on artificial snow, but is closing on Sunday 14th September. Ohau has main runs open.

Coronet Peak 09.09.14 [Source: Coronet Peak webcam]

Wanaka

Cardrona looks OK on the upper slopes in both basins, while Treble Cone has good coverage in the Saddle Basin but limited skiing back to base only in the Home Basin.

Queenstown

At Coronet Peak the snowmaking is keeping the lifts open. The Remarkables should stay open into October.