The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Monday 16 September – Rain today, but 5-10cm for NSW later, then warm and sunny

Synoptic Outlook

It’s warm and wet in the Aussie Alps this morning. But a front marking the edge of a frigid airmass is on its way over Victoria, and will reach NSW this afternoon, where it will turn rain to snow. Only a few snow showers will fall in Victoria, but heavier falls over NSW should see 5-10cm accumulate there.

After that, high pressure will sail through the Bass Strait on Tuesday, leaving a ridge of high pressure, sunshine and warm temps over the Aussie Alps through Wednesday and Thursday.

Image of The Day

The front about to cross the Aussie Alps will bring a heap of rain, but a cold change behind it will drop 5-10cm over NSW resorts from afternoon. High pressure, sunshine and warm temps during Wednesday and Thursday. Source: NZ Metservice (vandalised by the Grasshopper)

Monday 15 September

Rain with heavy falls and gale NW winds ahead of a front, which will cross Victoria this morning and NSW this afternoon.

A lighter but freezing southerly change behind the front will drop a few snow flurries/showers over Victoria, but heavier falls in NSW should drop about 5-10cm there from afternoon.

Tuesday 16 September

Brisk, cold SE winds push cloud against the south of the Aussie Alps and up and over NSW resorts where there might be a morning snow flurry. Most Vic resorts will be cloud free however, and winds will gradually ease.

Wednesday 17 September

Blissfully sunny and calm.

Thursday 18 September

A nice day, but northerly winds pick up and push in a little bit of afternoon cloud.

Extended Outlook

We’ll have warm northerlies during Friday, before a cold front brings a whole swag of rain during Saturday, although it’ll briefly turn to snow as the cold air hits with just a dusting likely.

After that, high pressure is likely to dominate over the next several days while a weak front slips under the Aussie Alps Monday and Tuesday next week.

That’s all from the Grasshopper. Wanna keep your finger on the pulse of all things snow? Join my weekly email list by filling in the box below. If you have a question or feedback for me, hit me up on facebook.

Monday 16 September – Wind, rain, and a dusting for the Southern Lakes, then sunshine and happiness

Synoptic Outlook

A frontal system storms over the South Island from later this afternoon and overnight, then over the North Island tomorrow. Severe gale W-NW winds will blow ahead of the system along with a swag of rain, followed by a freezing westerly, but only a light dusting of snow will fall on the Southern Lakes tonight.

Happy high pressure will take the country under its wing during Wednesday and Thursday, providing nice settled conditions.

Image of The Day

That frontal system looming in the west will lash the country with severe gales and rain, although a light dusting of snow will fall over the Southern Lakes tonight as a freezing westerly change goes through. After that, high pressure will bring happiness and sunshine. Source: NZ Metservice (vandalised by the Grasshopper)

Monday 16 September

Not toooo bad over the South Island this morning, although strong-gale NW winds are blowing in variable high cloud overhead. Winds will rise to severe gale later this afternoon, bringing heavy rain, but it’ll turn to lighter snow tonight over the Southern Lakes.

Partially cloudy on Ruapehu, mostly about lower slopes, with plenty of sunshine above. Stiff westerly winds.

Tuesday 17 September

Freezing, gale westerly winds gradually abate over the South Island. The odd snow flurry will blow onto the Southern Lakes, but there’ll be plenty of sunshine too. Crystal clear skies over Canterbury.

A horrid day up Ruapehu as rain sets in during the morning while westerly winds reach severe gale. Rain clears in the evening as winds ease.

Wednesday 18 September

Sun and cloud for the Southern Lakes with a strong and cold westerly.

Nothing but sun and fun in Canterbury with light winds.

Mostly mint on Ruapehu with light winds. There’ll be some afternoon cloud though.

Thursday 19 September

The South Island will be sunny as, with SW breezes.

A pearler of a day up Ruapehu with light winds.

Extended Outlook

The high continues to bring happiness and sunshine to the country during Friday and Saturday.

Gale to severe gale NW winds and another heap of rain will lash the country before a front brings another cold snap from the W-SW. Only a light dusting is expected as the front passes through, but another cold surge mid next week may bring a little more snow.

That’s all from the Grasshopper. Wanna keep your finger on the pulse of all things snow? Join my weekly email list by filling in the box below. If you have a question or feedback for me, hit me up on facebook.

Japan Forecast – Powder day for Honshu & Sunshine for Hokkaido before Mayhem Monday hits.

Thursday 7^th March (Japan time)

Ten-day snow accumulations are tantalisingly sizeable. Source:: windy.com

Now that we’re in the thick of spring, we’ll see it all this week. Rain on Honshu will turn to snow tonight, with Friday set to offer up some good powder and what could be the best conditions of the week for resorts there. Hokkaido will offer fantastic feel-good weather along with a predawn dusting on Sunday to top it all off. Things take a turn on Mayhem Monday however, as an angry low rampages over Japan with super strong winds, heavy rain and snowfalls eventually abating on Tuesday.

Ten-day snow accumulations are tantalisingly sizeable, but the bulk of this will pile up on mid-upper slopes with wetter slushier stuff lower down. Adding to that, some models show a rip-snorter of a snowstorm next weekend that may or may not come to fruition. It would certainly be a fairytale end to what is my last forecast for the season. That’s right folks, this is indeed my last and it has been a blast, but there are still plenty or turns to be made this season before hanging up the skis. See you all again when the southern hemisphere turn on.

Thursday 7 Mar:

A low sitting off the Pacific Coast of Honshu is currently dumping snow onto mid & upper slopes, but rain lower down. Temps will steadily drop from later this afternoon as strong northerly winds hit, with snowfalls lowering to base levels. It’s a lovely day on Hokkaido with plenty of sunshine and winds out of the N-NE.

Friday 8 Mar:

Snowfalls will gradually peter out on Honshu as northerly winds turn to the west. Accumulations from this event will mostly be within the 15-25cm range, so make the most of this fresh bonanza while you can. Hokkaido should have a beautiful sunrise and sunset, with cloud and maybe a snowflake or two in between.

Saturday 9 Mar:

A high passes over southern Honshu in the early hours, turning the winds over Japan to the SW and causing temps to steadily rise to a balmy day with a mix of sun and cloud.

Sunday 10 Mar:

There’ll be a predawn dusting on Hokkaido, with central parts receiving the most, eventually clearing to a beaut day as winds ease. On Honshu, high cloud will thicken during the afternoon as a low approaches from the East China Sea, spreading rain up to central Honshu at night.

Monday 11 Mar:

The low will rampage up Japan with strong winds and warm temps adding to the mayhem caused by rain. There’ll be really heavy falls, especially on the Pacific side of Japan, which will turn to snow about the tops of Honshu at night. Snow will fall to low levels on Hokkaido at first, then gradually lift to upper slopes at night.

Tuesday 12 Mar:

The angry low will track away to the north while rain and snowfalls gradually peter out, but there may be more showers later, which will fall as snow on upper slopes. Winds will blow a gale over northern Honshu and Hokkaido.

Wednesday 13 Mar:

Snow showers and flurries will blow in on a westerly wind, which will be quite strong. The snowfalls will be a bit wet and heavy at low levels.

North American Forecast – Spring Snowfalls Continue

Wednesday 6^th March (Pacific time)

Yet another awesome ten-day snow accumulation chart. This one however, shows good snowfalls more evenly spread throughout North America. Source:: windy.com

The second week of spring looks set to be a doozy with good snowfalls more evenly spread throughout North America compared to previous weeks. This is all thanks to a broad and complex low-pressure system, which drifts over western North America during the next few days, followed a cold airmass pushing south later in the week. With this being the last forecast of the season, there couldn’t be better way to sign out of one of the best seasons in living memory – this one will go down in the books for sure. Happy spring skiing to you all, I’m heading into the back country and will reappear once the leaves are falling in the Southern Hemisphere.

Thursday 7 Mar:

A broad and complex area of low pressure covers almost the entire western half of North America providing scattered light-moderate snowfalls for all-and-sundry, with pockets of heavier falls along the Rockies during the first half of the day as well as the Sierras during the second half. It may be a bit wet and heavy on lower slopes of many resorts due to fairly warm temps.

Friday 8 Mar:

Scattered snowfalls throughout western North America will gradually clear late in the day or at night as all of that low pressure migrates east. The mountains of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado look to gain the most with some heavier (moderate) falls, but again it might be a bit wet and slushy on lower slopes, as temps remain warm there. Temps should be cold enough elsewhere.

Saturday 9 Mar:

High pressure will see a mix of sun and cloud, with just a smattering of leftover flurries over the American Rockies during the morning and isolated snow showers in the Sierras.

Sunday 10 Mar:

Weak low pressure develops over the southern states to provide isolated snow showers for the southern Cascades and Sierras, which eventually spreads inland to Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico at night with decent, moderate-ish falls on the cards. Plenty of sunshine for resorts farther north.

Monday 11 Mar:

After what feels like an eternity, Canada will finally see a good dump of powder courtesy of a cold front rolling in from the Gulf of Alaska. There’ll be moderate-to-heavy snowfalls along the Coast Mountains and light-to-moderate falls further inland. The front will also roll over the Cascades later in the day with moderate-to-heavy falls.

Snowfalls farther south over Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico may actually be heavy at times, especially over the lower two states, with possible thunderstorms to boot.

Tuesday 12 Mar:

The front from the previous day continues to spread light-to-moderate snowfalls south and east from Canada and the Cascades all the way to the Sierras and Utah. Meanwhile, moderate-heavy snowfalls over Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico will ease and become few and far between.

Wednesday 13 Mar:

Scattered light snowfalls throughout the Rockies, but as the cold airmass continues pushing south, there’ll be some slightly heavier, moderate-ish falls over Arizona and New Mexico. Any leftover flurries along the Pacific crest will clear early.