AUSSIE WEEKLY SNOW JOURNAL – The Conclusion
Flakes falling at Falls Image::Courtesy of Falls Creek
Aussie Weekly Snow Journal | Alex Horvath
Another season is coming to a close this week as resorts begin to hit the switches on the lifts and the bull wheels slowly grind to a halt for another year. Bags are being packed, resorts are closing and the alpine rivers are raging as the melt continues and the shift to summer begins.
For those of us in the perpetual winter cycle it is this time of year that becomes one of mixed feelings, both disappointment and excitement as plans are made for the northern season that is fast approaching. In the spirit of remaining positive I thought I would focus this week on the season that was rather then the empty feeling we are left with as a result of another season ending.
Jye Kearney winning the Perisher night Slopestyle Finals Image::Courtesy of Perisher
The Beginning
June began perfectly, snowfalls a few days ahead of opening weekend meant that nearly every resort in the country was able to crank the lifts and build a few features in the parks, steady snowfalls through to the start of July meant that early season conditions were as good as they get and our base total hit 1m by the start of July.
The Middle
July and August this year were a bit of a mixed bag, the massive storm that hit in the first week of July left resorts with between 60-100 cm of new snow and we were all hoping for our luck to continue. Unfortunately another major storm just didn’t eventuate and around about this time things started to turn a little sketchy. Cold fronts were arriving, though they just didn’t tend to have the cold air we needed and we got some rain due to freezing levels sitting just a little too high.
August saw the high pressure systems basically dominate any chance of snowfalls pushing the fronts south as they moved through. The saving grace of the season was the resorts snow making systems. The long cold and sunny breaks that we got as a result of the persistent stable air mass meant that conditions were prime for the resorts to keep the cover fresh and maintain the higher traffic areas, without snowmaking this season would have ended quite a bit earlier then it did.
Mountainwatch’s own Steve Lee getting some late season turns in Image::Courtesy of Falls Creek
The End
Probably the biggest shame weather wise this season was the rise in temperatures that hit. The warm spell saw temperatures hit up to about 15°C in late August and early September, this caused a lot of damage to the snow pack and unfortunately it never really had a chance to recover. Luckily a persistent melt-freeze cycle meant that the snow pack would hold up in the mornings and there were definitely some fun spring days to be had.
So that brings us to the final few weeks, the biggest snowfall that we saw in the last few weeks was about 15 cm last Wednesday. This weekend however is looking like we may just finish with a bang. While there are only a few resorts still open if you are anywhere near Thredbo, Perisher or Falls Creek Saturday and Sunday will be definitely worth a final shred. All in all season 2011 will be most likely remembered as being average, we started well but finished a little short, at lease it’s better then having a shocker!
Weather for the remainder of the week
Strong winds up to 80km/hr are possible for the rest of the day as some wild weather moves across the mountains, this is likely to bring some pretty serious rain this evening and tomorrow followed by a drop in freezing levels and snow through to Saturday. At this stage it looks like freezing levels will be around about the 1300m mark with winds staying fairly moderate. All in all it will be a good way to finish off the season so anyone lucky enough to be around should be in for some good runs on Saturday and Sunday.
Resort breakdown
NSW
Perisher will be operating 15 lifts until the wrap up on Sunday, Mt Perisher will be the place to ride when the snow starts falling, best too stay in doors until the rain finishes and the snow starts.
Thredbo has scaled back the lifts that are operating through to the weekend and will be opening the Basin and Karels only. Once the snow starts falling there will be some good turns up high and in the backcountry once the weather clears!
Charlotte Pass is closed for 2011
VIC
Falls Creek Will be opening some lifts through to the weekend, head to Towers, Scotty’s, Main St and Wombat’s Ramble until Sunday afternoon.
Hotham Last day for 2011 today in Mt Hotham
Mt Buller is closed for 2011
Well that’s it for 2011 folks, I hope you had a good year in the mountains. Keep an eye on Mountainwatch for the latest news on global snowfalls, and start planning those OS trips to shred!
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.
Charlotte Pass forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Hotham forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Thredbo forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
