Snow Report 15 August 2012 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

A few cheeky snowfalls during this past week have kept snow conditions lovely, nice and fresh at the Aussie ski resorts. Conditions are at their peak for season 2012, so go skiing! That's right, go skiing now!

Yet another fantastic winter storm cycle is coming through in the lead-up to this weekend. There is some uncertainty about what it will bring - potentially (and hopefully) another big dump in time for some fantastic weekend skiing!

Mt Hotham 14 August [Source: Hotham Facebook Page]

Do I need to tell you again that you need to go skiing now?

Mt Hotham
Natural Snow Depth: 128-136cms
Parts of the Blue Ribbon area have opened since last week. This has provided access to the top parts of the runs above the Davenport access trail.

Another dump on Friday might see the lift turning for the first time this year. Meanwhile, the Extreme area reopened for skiing.

Mt Buller 10 August [Source: Mt Buller Facebook Page]

Falls Creek
Natural Snow Depth: 113-120cms
All lifts open and all terrain open - what more is there to say?

Mt Buller
Natural Snow Depth: 71cms
More snow at Buller has seem more lifts operational. This includes Bull Run (giving access to Standard run) and Grimus (linking Horse Hill to the Summit area). Some more snow would continue this progressive opening of new areas ... we hope!

NEW ZEALAND

Bang! More mid-August snow for New Zealand, in particular for the Canterbury and Mackenzie fields in the centre of the South Island. These areas now have deeper snow than this time last year, a vast improvement ... and its looking great for spring.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Lovely little Rainbow (40-80cms) is doing OK, but Mt Lyford (140-190cms) is the standout in the north as it has added about 65cms in the past week thanks to the easterly nature of some of the weather.

Canterbury

Mt Hutt 15 August [Source:  http://www.facebook.com/mthutt ]

Its all systems go at Porters (70-150cms). Nearby Mt Hutt (190-200cms) has added almost a metre in the last week, but has struggled to stay open in the difficult conditions and has also suffered from wet lower slopes again.

The Mackenzie

Ohau (100-160cms) I love to ski ... and ski you will with a trip to Ohau. At the other end of the Mackenzie, Mt Dobson has reported 220-260cms!

Wanaka

Treble Cone (92-110cms) and Cardrona (70-95cms) are doing just fine thank you and the conditions are nice in the Southern Lakes.

Queenstown

In Queenstown, things are OK but some more snow would be welcome at both Coronet Peak (45-85cms) and the Remarkables (66-86cms).