Snow Report 1 July 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Clear, cold days provided more opportunities for snowmaking in Australia last week as the lack of moisture over the mountains continued during this dry winter continued. The last few days have been too warm, however, with temperatures above zero during the day and night at most resorts.

The school holidays have started with little natural snow on the ground. There has been little improvement in snow cover since last week. This is frustrating, but I think there will be a good bit of snow falling by the end of this week. I hope so, as we have a long way to go to catch up to the metre of snow we had at this time last year. Maybe this year will bring a good late season, similar to New Zealand last year.

Perisher 1 July 2013 [Source: Perisher Webcam]

Mt Hotham
Natural Snow Depth: 8cms
Hotham is struggling to provide much skiing with only Summit Trainer, Sun Run and Big D open.

Falls Creek
Natural Snow Depth: 0cms
Drovers Dream lift opened this week, adding some fun skiing to the existing runs open - Main Street and Wombats Ramble.

Mt Buller

Natural Snow Depth: 0cms

Mt Buller has done really well to keep Bourke Street/Baldy, Wombat/Little Buller and Shakey Knees open. Snow is desperately needed and should come at the weekend.

Perisher

Natural Snow Depth: Approx 10cms

Towers on Mt Perisher opened at the weekend which added to the open runs. Just managing to show a bit of natural snow cover.

Thredbo
Natural Snow Depth: 0-41cms
High Noon and the beginners area at Friday Flat are now open. Limited skiing on groomed runs early this week.

Hanmer Springs 1 July 2013  [Source: Hanmer Springs FB page]

NEW ZEALAND

A great week and weekend for all the skifields that were operating this early in the season. Winds picked up on Monday and have forced some closures at some resorts.

Gale-force winds are forecast throughout this week and this will make things difficult for those skifields working on getting things up and running.

The strong northwesterlies will also bring very large amounts of snow above 1500m to skifields across the South Island this week.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow - Rainbow skifield is due to open on Saturday 6th July. Hanmer Springs says it is now looking to open on Friday 5th July. The staff have been up and about preparing the skifield. Mt Lyford opened on the weekend with an average base of 2m.

Canterbury

Porters 30 June 2013 [Source: skiporters.co.nz]

Porters has continued to work on opening since the avalanche incident, delayed now since 21st June. Mt Hutt (340/300cms) had a great week, but increasing winds today forced it to close. Looks likely more closures will follow this week with the winds forecasted.



The Mackenzie


Ohau (160/120cms) opened on the weekend, but closed on Monday due to winds. Roundhill is due to open 6 July with 1.5 metres. Mt Dobson (180cms) opened for one day on Saturday 29 June, but closed due to winds. Reopens 6 July.

Wanaka

Treble Cone (200/94cms) opened on 27th June with more than 2m in the Saddle Basin. Looks set to get a metre or more of snow up high in the next 5 days. Cardrona opened Valley View Quad on the weekend (125/65cms).

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (105/65cms) and The Remarkables (110/75cms).