Snow Report 23 July 2014 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

After snowy weeks and a little further snow on the weekend, the weather in southeast Australia has finally calmed down under a high pressure system arriving early this week. It has remained very cold overnight allowing for some more snowmaking on key runs in all the ski resorts.

It has been five days since the last snowfall. But there could be a chance of snow at the end of this week, with a mainly fine and mild weekend on the cards. But for now its sunny and clear and nobody is complaining with more than 1.5m of snowpack and light winds!

Falls Creek 23.07.14 [Source: Falls Creek FB page]

We'll be checking out Mt Hotham this weekend. Snowdepth is currently sitting at 154/137cms and all lifts running. Falls Creek (171/148cms) is looking great and uncrowded with full cover. Mt Buller (122/105cms) has all runs open save for some lower sections like the bottom of Summit Slide.

At Perisher there is extensive terrain with 47 lifts running for access to 96 runs today. While at Thredbo there is skiing back to the village and all lifts and runs were open.

NEW ZEALAND

The South Island of New Zealand saw some consistent snowfalls, particularly in the south, from Sunday with around 5-10cms accumulation each day until Tuesday. Not quite as much snow fell in the Canterbury region west of Christchurch.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like there will be further snowfalls in Canterbury for a while with fine, cold days forecast through to the weekend. Light snow showers will clear in Otago and the Southern Lakes as the weekend arrives.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow (40/7cms) is closed today. Hanmer Springs (10cms) has now opened up, but only with its Learner's rope tow lift running until more snow falls. Mt Lyford (50cms) opened on 18th July. With another 10cms of snow falling into Wednesday, the North Canterbury ski resort opened with powder conditions, including in the fun area served by the Cloudy T-bar.

Roundhill 20.07.14 [Source: Roundhill FB page]

Canterbury

Mt Hutt (63/48cms) has fine on-trail skiing on its wonderfully groomed runs. Porters (50/30cms) is open, but needs more snow to open the upper two lifts as the rocks need a certain amount of snow to get covered.

The Mackenzie

Ohau (70/40cms) has been skiing well. Roundhill (40cms) has main trails open but the Heritage rope tow lift to the advanced areas of the resort needs more snow. Mt Dobson (30cms) has opened for the first time this season with the T-bar only - other lifts have been on hold.

Wanaka

At Treble Cone (43/2cms) the lower parts of both of the basins are only really skiing on trail. Needs more snow to really get going. Cardrona (45/25cms) still has a similar base to last week.

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (50/35cms) saw a few top-ups early in the week. All lifts at the Peak are now running again. Mostly on-piste skiing only still. The Remarkables (100/45cms) had good snowfalls earlier this week, including 15cms on Monday. Off-piste skiing is still a little limited.