Snow Report 19 June 2015 - Australia & New Zealand

Guess what - its now the middle of June and so the snow season should start to get moving! I have rarely skied in June, so things are looking good to me right now with colder weather forecast for Australia towards the end of the month (that's pretty normal) and excellent early conditions already in parts of New Zealand.

AUSTRALIA

Some rain earlier this week has washed away what natural snow was left. The air started to cool on Thursday afternoon and in the evening the rain began to turn to snow. However, the showers then petered out through the night.

This weekend will be mainly fine, but there could be some snowfalls arriving after the weekend to allow the ski resorts to get more lifts running. We can only hope so.

Mt Buller

Mt Buller is down to three lifts open today with skiing limited to snowmaking runs on Bourke Street. Snow depth: 20cm

Mt Hotham

Source: Hotham webcam

Mt Hotham is now only operating the Big D beginners area. Snow depth: 10cm

Falls Creek

Falls Creek still has the Towers lift operating as well as the beginner runs around Cloud Nine and Wombats Ramble. Snow depth: 25cm

Perisher

Perisher has 11 lifts operating for 10 groomed runs.

Thredbo

The groomed runs available on the weekend at Thredbo today are at Cruiser, High Noon, Friday Flat and the Beginner Bowl .


NEW ZEALAND

Snow on and off through the weekend gave way to a run of clearer fine weather. A storm arrived Wednesday with around 20cm falling early in the morning. It continued to snow heavily through Thursday in Otago and Canterbury.

Source: Treble Cone webcam

This morning the ski resorts reported another 45-70cm on top of the falls of the previous day. '

Snow depths of 30cm have been reported on the roads around Methven in Canterbury and snow has fallen to low levels around Queenstown and Arrowtown.

The weekend may see some snow showers mixed with fine weather, followed by some more unstable mixed weather next week.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow 4th July 2015
Hanmer Springs late Jun/early July 2015
Mt Lyford late June 2015

Canterbury

Mt Hutt closed today for avalanche control work. Snow depth 100/160cm

Porters was due to open on 19th June 2015 but this has been delayed due to too much snow.

The Mackenzie

Ohau 27th June 2015
Roundhill 27th June 2015

Source: Cardrona webcam

Mt Dobson 4th July 2015

Wanaka

Treble Cone 25th June 2015
Cardrona opened last weekend. Snow depth 70/100cm

Queenstown

Coronet Peak opened last weekend. Snow depth 50/100cm

The Remarkables was set to open this weekend, but has suffered a setback. Delays by contractors finalising the construction of the new base building are to blame. The Remarkables says it needs a few more days to complete preparations. This means Coronet Peak will be very busy this weekend.

Snow Report 12 June 2015 - Australia & New Zealand

Oh dear! A promising start to the season was dampened somewhat thanks to a spell of warm and windy then briefly wet weather. There are some better signs of snowy goodness to come, however, especially in New Zealand which is under the snowy spell of a southerly weather system.

If you are now busy excitedly planning your ski trip in Australia or New Zealand, I have some links to some old blog posts that might help you get ready:

• Skiing with Kids in Australia & New Zealand
• Skiing for Seniors in Australia & New Zealand
• New Zealand Ski Trip 2013
• Mt Dobson New Zealand 2012 - A Closer Look
• Mt Hutt New Zealand 2012 - A Closer Look
• Ski New Zealand 2012 - Part 1
• Ski New Zealand 2012 - Part 2

AUSTRALIA

Mt Buller [Source: Mt Buller webcams]

It was a little too warm for snow earlier this week. Sadly the rain fell across all the ski resorts on Tuesday.

Now we're into a run of sunny, clear weather (good for snowmaking at night) until early next week when there is a chance of a little snow (or rain) up high. Lets hope it gets colder so it will turn to snow later in the week.

Mt Buller

Mt Buller had four lifts open today for skiing mainly on Bourke Street and Little Buller Spur, Conditions will have been challenging for the snowmakers as the overnight low was a balmy 5.6c and a forecast top today of 8c. Snow depth: 28cm

Mt Hotham

Mt Hotham is operating the Big D beginners area and the Summit Trainer only. Snow depth: 20cm

Falls Creek

Falls Creek has the Towers lift operating as well as the beginner runs around Cloud Nine and Wombats Ramble. Snow depth: 20cm

High Noon @ Thredbo [Source: Thredbo website]

Perisher

Perisher opened parts of the Blue Cow area today. A total of 13 lifts were operating for 13 groomed runs.

Thredbo

The groomed runs available this weekend at Thredbo are Ballroom, Walkabout, High Noon, Friday Flat, Beginner Bowl.


NEW ZEALAND

The rain arrived across the South Island on Tuesday as predicted. The good news was that it turned to snow really early on Wednesday morning. Since then it has kept snowing on and off especially around Queenstown and Wanaka (less so in Canterbury).

The snow is forecast to continue on and off through the weekend, building on the base as the skifields gear up their operations for season start. Cardrona, Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt open tomorrow.

Here's a reminder of all the updated planned skifield opening dates in New Zealand:

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow 4th July 2015
Hanmer Springs late Jun/early July 2015
Mt Lyford late June 2015

Cardrona [Source: Cardrona FB page]

Canterbury

Mt Hutt 13th June 2015
Porters 19th June 2015

The Mackenzie

Ohau 27th June 2015
Roundhill 27th June 2015
Mt Dobson 4th July 2015

Wanaka

Treble Cone 25th June 2015
Cardrona 13th June 2015

Queenstown

Coronet Peak 13th June 2015 - Confirmed that Coronet Express and Meadows lifts will operate tomorrow.
The Remarkables 21st June 2015

Snow Report 6 June 2015 - Australia & New Zealand

Welcome all to the 2015 Australian and New Zealand ski season. Lets hope for some consistent wintery weather to build on the good start we have already had on both sides of the Tasman!

If you missed the post last month, take a look at What's New At The Skifields in 2015.

AUSTRALIA

This weekend is the official start to the Australian season. Most years there's not a lot of snow to talk of, but this year we have done quite well. A cold spell and some snow over the last week means there's natural snow on the ground topped up with some fantastic snowmaking efforts by the resorts.

Source: Mt Buller website

There looks like being some more snow early next week, maybe 5-10cm on the peaks. Then it looks like a run of fine weather which is not ideal at this time of year when we want to be building a base.

Mt Buller

Mt Buller had four lifts open today for skiing mainly on Bourke Street. But Buller has done well to also have Wombat Chair open for some intermediate skiing. Snow depth: 30cm

Mt Hotham

Mt Hotham has Sun Run open, the Big D beginners area and the lift at Dinner Plain. Snow depth: 17cm

Source: Falls Creek website

Falls Creek

Falls Creek looks good with the Towers lift operating as well as the beginner runs around Cloud Nine. Snow depth: 19cm

Perisher

Perisher has had a super start with 11 lifts open today across Perisher Valley and Smiggin Holes.

Thredbo

Both the High Noon and The Cruiser area are open at Thredbo.

Source: Thredbo website

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand has had some good early snowfalls that will get things going on time for many of the skifields. Cardrona is looking great and Coronet Peak has been pumping out artificial snow in the cold temperatures of recent weeks.

There looks like being snow early next week, but there might be some rain first. Hopefully it gets cold quickly and most of the precipitation falls as snow. That would really get things going!

Here's a reminder of all the planned skifield opening dates in New Zealand:

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow 4th July 2015
Hanmer Springs late Jun/early July 2015
Mt Lyford late June 2015

Canterbury

Mt Hutt 12th June 2015
Porters 19th June 2015

The Mackenzie

Ohau 27th June 2015
Roundhill 27th June 2015
Mt Dobson 4th July 2015

Wanaka

Treble Cone 25th June 2015
Cardrona 13th June 2015

Queenstown

Coronet Peak 13th June 2015
The Remarkables 21st June 2015