Snow Report 7 September 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Warm and windy days in the mountains, interspersed with rain, have seriously depleted the snow cover across the Australian skifields. Daytime temperatures reached into the teens at the resorts during one of the warmest winters on record.

The good times of late August are now a distant memory! However, the good snowfalls that fell then should at least maintain some decent snow cover at Perisher and Falls, especially if a little top-up comes along next week some time. Could be a good time to learn to ski with the discounted lift tickets that should be offered.

Mt Hotham - Natural Snow Depth: 56cms
The best weeks for Hotham were late August when the whole resort was open and skiing really well. Hotham has lost more than half a metre since last week's report. The Orchard and Blue Ribbon areas closed early on, and the best skiing is now limited to Heavenly Valley. However, even around and about Heavenly there are big patches showing now.

Falls Creek - Natural Snow Depth: 86cms

Perisher 7 Septmeber 2013 [Source: perisher.com.au]

A lot of snow cover lost with the great melt over the past week. Fortunately Falls Creek has a good base so should keep most of the back areas open for a few weeks more. International has closed and Summit can't be far off if this weather continues. As you'd expect in a poor year, Falls has had the best cover of the Victorian ski resorts.

Mt Buller - Natural Snow Depth: 8cms
The punishing warm days, followed by rain have wiped out Buller's natural snow cover. Skiing is now limited to groomed runs ... really only three of them: Bourke St/Baldy, Little Buller Spur/Wombat and Shakey Knees.

Perisher - Natural Snow Depth: Approx 25-125cms
Lots of melt across the resort and grass and rocks showing through now, especially in areas like Smiggins and Guthega. However, Perisher still has lots of terrain open and lifts running ... 35 of them this weekend.

NEW ZEALAND

A series of fronts is approaching the South Island of New Zealand and they could bring up to a metre of snow in the next week. That would set up some incredible Spring skiing!

Cardrona 5 September 2013 [Source: Cardrona FB page]

Conditions could return to those seen at the end of June and early July. All skifields should get big dumps, but winds in the weather forecasts could see some lifts on hold during the early parts of the coming week.


Its interesting how the best conditions for skiing in New Zealand will have been at the beginning and the end of the season this year. Just goes to show how you need to be flexible to get the best snow conditions!

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow (60/40cms) is open but needs some more snow soon, while Mt Lyford (150cms) received another 45cms of new snow on Thursday and is skiing nicely into September.

Canterbury

Porters (150/40cms) got another 15cms on Thursday and will be right back in business after this week's storm, while Mt Cheeseman (100/40cms)looks good up top but needs (and will soon get) some snow around the base area. Mt Hutt (295/250cms) received another 30cms last week, and was in the news when hundreds of customers got stuck on the mountain well into the night when wild and windy weather came in and closed the access road.

The Mackenzie

The Remarkables 5 September 2013 [Source: Remarks FB page]

Ohau (140/60cms) is delivering some snowy goodness for the spring season this year with another 35cms on Thursday. Roundhill (150/40cms) got 30cms and has decent cover for September, and Mt Dobson (100cms) also scored another 30cms snowfall and is looking good for spring.

Wanaka

The lower slopes at Treble Cone (298/0cms) need the snow thats coming this week, and will soon look very different with all the tussocks covered and top-to-bottom skiing. Cardrona got 20cms on Thursday and is set  to enjoy the outcome of this week's snow storms (130/55cms).

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (85/42cms) is looking OK while The Remarkables (135/85cms) look very nice and are set up for some fantastic weeks ahead.