Australian Forecast – Major Storm Still On Track to Deliver the Goods After Sunday’s Washout
Published early Sunday, 9th August 2026
The storm we’ve all been frothing about, perhaps the biggest of the season, will barrel in today. While it’ll begin as a washout below the highest peaks, a sharp cold change in the early predawn hours of Monday will send snow levels plummeting to base levels, kicking off a few days of fresh snowfall that could seriously boost the snowpack.
Resorts should score storm totals of around 25–45cm, despite a few bouts of milder air bringing wet conditions to lower elevations at times, with up to 50-60+cm possible at high elevations. It’s been a tricky forecast and models have been all over the shop, mostly due to issues with snow levels. Our very own MountainWatch model is reading the situation well, but I expect the snow accumulations to be towards the top end of what we can expect.
Sunday 9th August
It’s going to be a rough day as a powerful storm barrels in during the morning, with heavy rain and strong north-to-northwest winds developing, reaching severe gale in exposed areas, so expect limited lift operations. Some snow may fall about the highest terrain above about 1900m, but below that it’ll be a washout, especially in the evening when the heaviest rain arrives ahead of an approaching cold front.
Monday 10th August
The cold front sweeps through during the early hours before dawn, sending snow levels plummeting to base levels and turning the heavy rain to heavy snow, with between 5-20cm piling up by opening time.
Snowfall and strong-to-gale northwesterlies continue through the day, providing fresh refills, before a surge of milder air from the southwest turns it to rain at mid and low elevations in Victoria during the afternoon and New South Wales in the evening. There’ll be blizzard conditions and lift ops will likely be hampered again. Precipitation eases overnight as it turns back to snow.
Tuesday 11th August
Light snow showers and flurries continue, keeping the slopes nice and fresh with 2-8cm expected, while strong, chilly westerly winds turn northwest.
Wednesday 12th August
Another powder day that will see snow showers build through the day before the strong northwesterlies turn southwest, although it may turn wet and sleety at base levels. Snow clears late in the day, leaving another 5-15cm top-up.
Thursday 13th August
Cloud clears New South Wales early for a fine, sunny day, but they linger in Victoria, where there’ll be a few extra snow flurries in the west on Mt Buller and Mt Baw Baw. Brisk west-to-southwest winds.
Extended Forecast
Conditions will be all-time after this week’s storm as high pressure drifts beneath Southeast Australia through the weekend and into early next week. Expect a mix of sunshine and cloud, the odd shower here and there, and generally light winds as they gradually swing from southwest to northeast, then northwest by around Wednesday the 19th.
The next storm system is expected later next week, from about Thursday the 20th onwards, although it currently looks fairly weak with little snowfall expected.
That’s all from me today, folks. I’m firing out these forecasts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the season, and an extra update on Sundays during peak season. Have a great day, and I’ll see you back here on Monday.
Grasshopper
