The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Australian Forecast – Mint Till Sunday, Rain Then Snow Next Week

Published early Friday, 20^th June 2025

A big fat high drifting over the Aussie Alps will keep skies clear and calm until Sunday. After that dusting of snow earlier in the week, along with cold temperatures, we’ve got excellent early-season conditions out there.

Things will take a turn on Monday as a punchy storm from the west leads in with strong, warm and wet northwest winds. We’ll receive a fair whack of rain from late Monday, but fortunately, cold air will arrive later on Tuesday, and bring us a decent load of powder before next weekend.

Latest pressure analysis and satellite image. Source: The BOM (vandalised by the Grasshopper)

Friday 20^th June

An absolute stunner with clear skies, calm skies.

Saturday 21^st June

Another cracker day, mild with light northwest breezes developing.

Sunday 22^nd June

Mint again, with a little high cloud. Northwest winds pick up.

Monday 23^rd June

Light rain or drizzle develops in the morning, then builds a little during the day, with heavy falls after dark. Strong northwest winds will blow a gale in exposed areas.

Extended Forecast

Heavy rain and strong northwest winds will continue through the first half of Tuesday, then it’ll turn to snow during the latter half of the day, with heavy snowfall coming down before it starts to back off later on Wednesday and finally clears up on Thursday. It’ll be a punchy storm with early forecasts picking between 30 and 45cm at the resorts, but about half as much for Mt Baw Baw.

This will set us up nicely for a fine, settled weekend as high pressure builds.

That’s all from me today, folks. I’m sending out these forecasts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the season. Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday.

Grasshopper

New Zealand Forecast, June 20th  – Cold Change Brings Another Dusting, A Little Rain & High-Level Snow Sunday

Published early Friday, 20^th June 2025

The Southern Lakes received a dusting of 2-7cm in the early hours of Thursday. Snow showers returned late Thursday and will persist into Friday afternoon, giving ski fields another dusting ahead of a mint day on Saturday, as a ridge of high pressure passes over the South Island.

Mt Hutt missed out on the dusting on Thursday and was affected by strong northwest winds, which limited operations and hardened the snowpack to a crisp. Northwest winds will persist through Friday, but cooler winds from the south later in the day will bring light snowfall through into Saturday, giving some ski fields a light dusting and a chance to fire up the snow guns.

Westerly winds will become strong again on Sunday, while a front brings rain and high-level snow to the Southern Lakes during the second half of the day and a little bit to Canterbury that night. Things clear up again for a lovely day on Monday as another ridge of high pressure moves onto the South Island.

Porters Pass is scheduled to open on June 27^th, but will sneak in a few early sessions Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Whakapapa and Turoa on Mt Ruapehu in the North Island will also open their learner slopes on Saturday.

Latest pressure analysis and satellite image. Source: The BOM (vandalised by the Grasshopper)

Friday 20^th June

Snow showers for the Southern Lakes clear this afternoon as gusty westerlies turn southwest, although the Queenstown ski fields could see a few extra flurries.

For the most part, Canterbury fields will have strong, gusty west-to-northwest winds and partly cloudy skies. Snow showers will then kick up from late afternoon as winds turn to a lighter southwest.

Saturday 21^st June

Clear and sunny with light breezes for the Southern Lakes and the Mackenzie Basin.

Elsewhere in Canterbury, southerly winds will push a few light snow showers into the Frontal Range (Mt Hutt, Porters Pass) during the morning, while Mt Lyford further north will receive light snowfall until evening.

Sunday 22^nd June

Westerly winds become strong in exposed areas of the Southern Lakes, then a front will bring rain and high-level snow during the afternoon and evening.

The day will start nicely in Canterbury, but cloud will build in the afternoon as strong west-to-northwest winds develop. There’ll also be some light showers overnight, possibly falling as snow up top.

Monday 23^rd June

Any cloud about South Island ski fields clears early for a mint day, as southwest breezes turn westerly.

Extended Forecast

The middle of next week is looking rough. A storm from the west brings heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday, along with horrendously strong northwest winds. A cold change will bring light snowfall from late Thursday into Friday, but it won’t be nearly enough to repair the damage.

However, cold temperatures throughout next weekend should have the snow guns cranking, and a weak cold front will likely bring an extra dusting of snow late Saturday into early Sunday.

That’s all from me today, folks. I’m sending out these forecasts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the season. Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday.

Grasshopper

The Grasshopper has wrapped up his weekly Japan forecasts for for the 2024/25 season. He’s having a couple of months R&R and will be back in June with his Australian and New Zealand  forecasts.

And, of course, Japan’s best snow forecasts will resume in December 2025.

The Grasshopper has wrapped up his weekly NorthAmerican forecasts for for the 2024/25 season. He’s having a couple of months R&R and will be back in June with his Australian and New Zealand  forecasts.

And, of course, our North American snow forecasts will resume in December 2025.