Early Season: June and July

Natural snow was largely absent when Australian resorts opened early-mid June, limiting the terrain to narrow strips of man-made cover. That terrain slowly grew through the rest of June and early July as cold temperatures allowed resorts to put in a massive snowmaking effort alongside several light snowfalls.

By mid-July, conditions improved briefly, with heavy snowfalls of up to 25cm in some areas. However, lower elevations struggled with denser, wetter snow, limiting snow accumulation at the base. The biggest snowfall of the season came in late July, with accumulations of 25-55cm, providing excellent skiing conditions. High winds and rain impacted the lower elevations, but this event helped solidify the snowpack across the resorts.

Mid-Season Struggles: August

August was particularly challenging, with frequent warm spells and rainstorms. The snowpack, which typically peaks during this time, faced rapid melting, forcing early closures at several resorts. By the end of the month, only a few major resorts, like Perisher, Thredbo, and Falls Creek, remained open.

Cold fronts throughout the month brought periodic snowfalls, especially at higher elevations, but these were often followed by warm, windy weather that quickly eroded the gains. Rain and severe winds dominated much of the mid-August period, further contributing to one of the fastest meltdowns in recent history.

September: The Final Stretch

By early September, only a few resorts, including Perisher, remained operational as the snow season came to a premature close. Warm temperatures and strong "hairdryer" northwest winds accelerated the snow melt, with intermittent cold fronts bringing only light snowfalls that brought little reprieve. Perisher managed to stay open longer than others, with only Front Valley and the backcountry open but was also forced to close several days early. To add insult to injury, a cold southerly came through a day after Perisher closed and dropped around 5cm of fresh snow, which was well shy of forecasts but the first snow we'd seen for a long time.

That's all from me, catch you next season!

Mike O'Connor

That's all from me, catch you next season!

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