Bumper Snow in New Zealand Continues

13th August 2023

Last modified on August 16th, 2023

Ski resorts on the North & South Islands have been hit, and there’s more snow in the forecast. UPDATED

Mt. Ruapehu on the north Island is home to Tūroa and Whakapapa, that now claims a base of 2.5m.

40cm has fallen in the last week alone.

It has brought the danger of avalanches to the ski area.

The risk is at Level 3, on a scale of 5.

” Yesterday (Friday 11/8/23) we had an avalanche triggered by skiers/snowboarders that have ignored the closures posted by Whakapapa Ski Patrol and skied into terrain that had not yet been controlled (hence the closure),” said a statement from the resort.

“We found the avalanche after it had been triggered and quickly effected a search of the debris with beacons and an avalanche dog and found that luckily, nobody was caught up in it.

“These conditions will exist outside of both ski area’s open terrain over the next 24 to 48 hours at least.

“We strongly urge all guests to stay within the ski area and to obey signage at all times.”

On the South Island it’s a similar snow story with Mt Hutt, Treble Cone, The Remarkables, and Coronet Peak posting on social media.

And there’s more snow on its way to New Zealand:

It is a different picture in Australia where more snow is needed.

Resorts are struggling and mainly relying on artificial snow with a few dustings.

After a good start to winter in Australia the early promised for a bumper season failed to materialise.

June, when the resorts opened, saw some decent conditions but since it has been a dry and warm winter.

Record high temperatures this winter have resulted in the lack of snow at resorts in Australia.

The main mountain for skiing in Tasmania hasn’t operated ski lifts for weeks, despite it being peak season.

There was a dusting last weekend which has helped.

The snow guns have helped in Mt Hotham in Victoria.

And the snow dances continue.

There is some hope for ski resorts in Australia in the forecast.

“There’s a little more cause for optimism in the coming week than there has been over the past four or five weeks, which had been pretty slim pickings,” said a statement from the Australian Bureau for Meteorology.

Here on PlanetSKI we will be updating this article with a full resort on conditions and elsewhere in the southern hemisphere including South America so do check back.