AUSSIE WEEKLY SNOW JOURNAL – Epic conditions leading into Opening Weekend
Aussie Weekly Snow Journal | Alex Horvath
If you have checked the cams today you would have been greeted with some amazing sights this morning with some much welcomed snow on the ground ahead of opening weekend.
For anyone lucky enough to wake up in the mountains this morning then I am sure that the stoke was high when you pulled back the curtains and saw the 10-15cm that fell across the alps. The snow that has fallen over the last 24 hours combined with more snow forecast through to Friday is setting up the best opening weekend conditions that we have seen since the 2000 season!
Thredbo 8 June. Image::Courtesy of Thredbo
Overnight temperatures reached a frigid -8.0°C meaning that the snow that fell is super light ‘blower’ powder! This also meant that the resorts have had a stellar run of snowmaking over the last 48hours or so due to the ultra cold south westerly air flow that’s being dragged up from the Antarctic region. If this system is any indication then it is looking like we are in for some epic weather patterns this winter!
Infrared satellite image 8 June. Image::Courtesy of BOM
On the latest infrared satellite image you can see the system passing over Tasmania and Southeast Victoria that has delivered the latest snowfalls. Take note of all that speckled cloud that you can see behind the front, that is the COLD Antarctic air that is keeping temperatures super low over the next few days.
How does the weekend look?
With snowfalls forecast to continue across the next 24-48 hours there is lots of reasons to get stoked about being in the mountains this weekend. Here is what is happening at each resort.
Thredbo reported 10cm at mid-mountain and 5cm in the village, snow all the way to the bottom of the hill is great to see at such an early stage and the village is buzzing with hype!
The mercury hit a very cold -7.3°C, this meant that so far Thredbo has been able to pump out 47 000m3 of man made snow since Monday. Natural snow and snowmaking will continue through to the weekend and lifts will open on Friday.
Entertainment kicks off on Friday night, the competition calendar will begin on Saturday 18 June with the rails event of the Thredbo Freeride Series. Check out Thredbo’s eStore between 9am and 9pm Friday to grab your 1 day pass for 50% off peak season rates.
Thredbo Looking ready to go. 8 June. Image::Courtesy of Thredbo
Perisher received 12cm of new snow overnight bringing the 7 day total to 22cm. The resort has had 137 snowmaking guns operating since Monday morning; this will help Perisher open for skiing and riding on Friday and across the weekend.
The Snowy Mountains of Music will also kick off this weekend with plenty of live music on offer.
Perisher 8 June. Image::Courtesy of Perisher
Mt Buller saw 27cm of new snow over the last 24 hours, the resort is reporting a base of 40cm in snowmaking areas setting them up with a solid base. Snowmaking will continue until the weekend and groomers are already out prepping the terrain for some shredding!
Mt Buller has reported that Wombat chair will operate for the first time ever on day 1 of the season… “We couldn’t ask for a better lead in to the season” said Laurie Blampied, Buller Ski Lifts General Manager, watching the snow guns firing outside his office. “The Wombat Chair gives access to some of our most popular intermediate terrain and skiers and boarders are going to be making history this weekend. It’s exciting to have such a strong start for our guests. We’ve not had this much terrain open for our first weekend in ten years.”
Shovelling snow at Mt Buller. 8 June. Image::Courtesy of Mt Buller
Falls Creek has been lucky enough to be graced by 20cm of new snow so far this week. They have been cranking the snow guns straight through for the last 48hours and with the mercury currently sitting around -5.9°C snowmaking will be in full force for the next few days.
Word on the street at Falls Creek is that they could be seeing more new natural snow throughout the rest of the week so things are looking good. Falls Creek expects to operate a number of lifts opening loads of terrain for skiing and riding this weekend.
Hotham saw freezing temperatures around -5.9°C overnight enabling them to make over 1500 truckloads of snow since snowmaking began. 18cms of new snow was reported over the last 24 hours and fingers crossed the resort will be opening some terrain this weekend.
The storm will be moving into the kitchen across Hotham and Dinner Plain over the long weekend, with the launch of the Hotham and Dinner Plain Food and Wine Festival.
Ben Lomond, details are sketchy but as a result of my own inquiries there is talk of an estimated 50-60cm of new snow in the Tasmanian resort. Speaking with Eryl Williams from Ben Lomond Resort Operations, he says “At the moment the weather is wild! It is very cold with heavy snow, strong winds and low visibility. The roads accessing the resort are currently closed and we are waiting for an excavator to shift the snow the plough can’t remove.”
Ben Lomond reports that it’s awaiting delivery of a new snowmaking machine arriving from the USA, unfortunately at this point the resort is inaccessible so you can understand the severity of the conditions!
As more details/photos of the storm in Tassy become available we will provide an update.
This storm and the following period of cold temperatures have set up the Aussie mountains perfectly and just in time for season ’11 kick off. I don’t know about you but I know I will be waxing the board and heading for the hills this weekend for a shred!
For the latest conditions and forecasts keep checking our 3-hourly forecasts as well as our updates from “The Grasshopper”. Daily snow reports will also kick off on Thursday 9 June.
Perisher forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Falls Creek forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Mount Buller forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Hotham forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Ben Lomond forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams
Thredbo forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
