The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Australian Forecast – Mostly Warm, Sunny Skies for the Final Week of the Aussie Season

Published early Friday, 18^th September 2026

Perisher’s slopes have had a timely little freshen-up for the home stretch, thanks to Tuesday night’s 4cm top-up and a couple of solid nights of snowmaking. We’ve now entered the final week of the Aussie season, with Perisher announcing Friday the 25th of September as closing day. That means this will also be my final Aussie forecast of the season, and it should see you right through to last turns.

Mother Nature looks set to dish up plenty of sunshine for the grand finale. Friday and Saturday will be warm and sunny before hair-dryer northwesterlies crank up to gale force on Sunday, potentially affecting lifts and taking another decent bite out of the snowpack.

Things settle down again Monday as cooler southerlies arrive, bringing another big helping of blue sky and perhaps one last chance for the snow guns overnight. Tuesday then shapes up as an absolute bluebird corker, with more sunshine and warm weather expected through the final few days of the season. Not a bad way to see things out!

Friday 18^th September

Another beautiful, warm, sunny day with a little high cloud as westerly winds pick up.

Saturday 19^th September

Nice, warm and sunny with a brisk westerly.

Sunday 20^th September

Clear and sunny again, but warm hair-dryer northwesterlies crank up to gale force, taking a sizable nibble out of the snowpack and possibly affecting lift operations.

Monday 21^st September

Northwest winds die away early, with cooler, light southerlies then serving up a big helping of blue sky and sunshine, a little cloud on the side and perhaps a spit or two to wet the whistle. There may even be one last chance for the snow guns to fire overnight.

Tuesday 22^nd September

Yet another stunning bluebird day, with barely a breath of wind to ruffle the feathers.

Extended Forecast

Sunshine and warm west-to-northwest breezes will dominate Perisher’s final three days of the season. However, a little atmospheric instability could spark a shower on Thursday and Friday afternoon, the 24^th and 25^th of September, with a chance of thunderstorms. Hopefully Mother Nature puts on a fitting light show to see the season out in style.

That’s all from me for today, and for the season, folks. It’s been a real pleasure riding the highs and lows of another Aussie winter with you. It certainly wasn’t an easy one, but hopefully you managed to scrounge up a few gems, score some good turns and make the most of what was dished up.

The NZ season is still cranking and will roll on into mid-October, while the Northern Hemisphere will start winding up in a couple of months, so there’s still plenty of snow to look forward to. Otherwise, enjoy the warmer months, and I’ll see you back here next season.

The Grasshopper, signing off!

New Zealand Forecast –  Powder Keeps Ticking Up as Cold Fronts Keep Rolling In

Published early Friday, 18^th September 2026

South Island ski fields have scored yet another spring freshen-up, with Wednesday and Thursday’s storm laying down a solid new layer of powder. The storm cleared out of the Southern Lakes early yesterday, revealing 15-20cm of freshies and setting the stage for an epic powder day. Treble Cone came out on top, reporting 7cm at the base up to a juicy 25cm up around the top of the Saddle.

Final storm tallies are still to come from Canterbury, where the flakes kept falling through yesterday, but similar totals are expected. Sadly, it was all a little too late for Porters, which had its final hurrah yesterday after relentless spring nor’westers have chewed away too much of the lower mountain.

There’s certainly no shortage of action in the days ahead, with spring westerlies continuing to rule the roost and a procession of cold changes keeping the powder tallies ticking up bit by bit. Friday will be the quieter day before gale-force northwesterlies and rain barrel in on Saturday, followed by a sharp southwest change after dark that’ll dish up another wee 2-6cm top-up for the Southern Lakes.

Sunday then shapes up nicely as skies clear across the South Island, while Mt Ruapehu finally gets its turn at the powder trough with a handy 5-15cm. But the breather won’t last long. Northwesterlies crank up and absolutely howl again on Monday before another cold change delivers 2-6cm overnight, with yet another 5-15cm possible across South Island ski fields through Tuesday, and then Mt Ruapehu on Wednesday.

Friday 18^th September

Westerly winds will be strong in exposed areas of the Southern Lakes, with mostly cloudy skies and a few snow flurries possible in the south.

Canterbury will be nicer with just a little high cloud and light west-to-northwest breezes.

A fine start for Mt Ruapehu with light winds, but a low-pressure system rolling over the top of the country will bring rain from late morning through the afternoon.

Saturday 19^th September

Northwesterlies crank up over the South Island before dawn as a front pushes in from the west, reaching gale force in exposed areas, especially in Canterbury where lift operations will likely be affected. At the same time, rain develops along the Main Divide, with light showers spilling further east to the ski fields, although Mt Hutt will likely stay dry with just high cloud overhead.

Then, after dark, a strong, cold southwest change will rip through, giving the Southern Lakes a wee 2-6cm top-up and just a skiff on those Canterbury ski fields near the Main Divide, while Mt Hutt misses out.

Another nice start for Mt Ruapehu, but it also won’t last as strengthening westerlies bring rain showers from late morning, which will hang around for the rest of the day.

Sunday 20^th September

A chilly, blustery start for the South Island as strong southwesterlies gradually ease and swing west. Any lingering snow showers over the Southern Lakes clear early, with the cloud peeling away through the afternoon for a mint end to the day. Canterbury gets the better end of the deal, with plenty of sunshine and just a little cloud drifting through.

Rain on Mt Ruapehu turns to snow before dawn as cold southwesterlies arrive, delivering a fresh 5-15cm top-up before skies clear later in the afternoon.

Monday 21^st September

The Southern Lakes pick up a cheeky skiff of snow before dawn as a weak front slips through. The weather then cranks up as northwesterlies strengthen across the South Island, absolutely howling by late afternoon, especially in Canterbury, while spillover rain pushes across the Main Divide, although Mt Hutt will stay dry again.

Yet another short, sharp cold change rips through after dark, delivering a fresh 2-6cm shot of powder to both the Southern Lakes and Canterbury ski fields.

Mt Ruapehu will be nice and clear up high, but brisk southwest winds will bring cloud to the lower slopes.

Tuesday 22^nd September

The powder keeps piling up in the Southern Lakes, with snow falling through much of the day as a cold west-to-southwesterly kicks in during the morning.

Canterbury gets a mostly clear start, but northwesterlies crank up once again before a cold change sweeps through in the evening, bringing snow through the night. All up, South Island ski fields could score another handy 5-15cm.

Showers and westerlies build over Mt Ruapehu during the morning before a cold southwest change sweeps through around midday, delivering a wee dusting or small shot of powder. Skies then clear through the afternoon for a much nicer finish to the day.

Extended Forecast

The cold change sweeping over the South Island on Tuesday will reach Mt Ruapehu on Wednesday the 23^rd, delivering a similarly handy 5-15cm top-up. The South Island, meanwhile, may see a few lingering snow showers before a ridge of high pressure brings a brief breather on Thursday the 24^th.

A run of fairly weak storm systems could then dish up a little more snow for Kiwi ski fields from late next week into early the following week, roughly Friday the 25^th through Monday the 28^th. Models are still a little iffy on the details, but for now at least, winds aren’t looking too feral, which will be a welcome bonus after the blustery spring we’ve been having.

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

Grasshopper

Weekly Japan Forecast – A Better Week Ahead With More Snow & Colder Temps

Written late Wednesday, 4^th March (Japan Standard Time)

Well folks, this will be my final forecast for the 2025–2026 Japanese snow season. It’s been a solid month of limited snowfall and unseasonably warm temperatures across Japan, with the past seven days in particular delivering very little fresh snow. After an epic January and early February, the Japow machine has largely switched off, and we’ve seen considerable snow loss as a result.

However, the next seven days look far more promising, with a few decent rounds of powder and cold temps on the way. Thursday, Sunday and Tuesday are shaping up as the standout days, with the bulk of the snowfall expected then. There are still a few weeks left in the season, and spring skiing brings warmer temperatures, longer days and more sunshine. It’s my personal favourite, so get amongst it! 

Thursday 5^th & Friday 6^th March

Thursday will be a powder day of sorts as remaining snowfall across the country gradually dries up. This comes after a storm from the southwest arrived late Tuesday, bringing warm temperatures and rain at first. Temperatures were quick to drop over Northern Honshu and Hokkaido, so there was fresh snow in this Wednesday morning’s reports. However, it was not your usual “lake-effect” Japow; it was denser, maritime snow coming off the Pacific Ocean, akin to what we get in Australia and NZ. As I put pen to paper, snow levels over Central Honshu are also on their way down from the mid-slopes and will get nice and low this Wednesday night.

Friday will stay mostly dry, but there’ll be some isolated flurries lingering on Hokkaido. Temperatures will rocket back up on Honshu as warm southerlies develop ahead of the next storm approaching from the west in the Sea of Japan. Rain from this storm spreads across the country Friday night, falling as snow to fairly low levels on Hokkaido, where temperatures will be much colder.

Saturday 7^th February & Sunday 8^th March

The storm will continue over the country throughout Saturday and Sunday morning, then gradually wind down during the latter half of Sunday. Snow levels about the mid-to-upper slopes of Honshu will gradually lower to base levels by late Saturday, while on Hokkaido, they’ll have to climb over a hill before a period of heavy snowfall to near sea level early Sunday.

Snowfall totals for the weekend are expected to be around 20-50+ cm, with resorts in Niigata and southwest Hokkaido favoured for the deepest totals.

Monday 9^th to Wednesday 11^th March

Leftover snow showers over northern Honshu will clear up Monday morning, but will persist on Hokkaido.

Central Honshu will stay dry on Monday, but another low-pressure system passing on the Pacific side will pull in a fresh surge of cold air from Monday night, bringing another round of snow for a 10-30+ cm powder day on Tuesday. The passing low will also bring a dusting to northern Honshu and Hokkaido on Tuesday.

A ridge of high pressure will then bring dry, settled weather next Wednesday.

That’s all from me today, and for the season. It’s been a real pleasure bringing you all the snowlights of the 2025-2026 season, which will go down in the history books as having one of the best runs of powder days from Jan through early Feb. See you in June when the Aussie and Kiwi seasons get underway.

Grasshopper

Weekly North America Forecast – Temps Fluctuate as Storms Favour the North

Written Wednesday, 5^th March (Pacific Standard Time)

Well, guys and gals, this will be my final forecast for the 2025-2026 North American snow season. It’s been a funny ol’ season that saw some Canadian resorts cranking through December with near-endless snowfall, followed by a long, warm, dry spell, which US resorts in particular suffered from as high-pressure took over the West, while the East went into a storm-laden deep freeze.

Storms returned to the West mid Feb, and resorts have had a great few weeks as snowpacks have bounced back. At present, snowpacks in the northern half of the Rockies, from Canada and Alberta down to Wyoming and Idaho, are sitting at or above their long-term median, highlighting where conditions have been the best this season.

Storms will once again favour the north in the upcoming seven-day period, although snow quality and snow levels will fluctuate as warm and cold airmasses are dragged in with each storm system. The central and northern US Rockies will also receive a nice round of powder at the start of this period (Thursday and Friday), before settled high pressure then takes hold over the central and southern US.

Thursday 5^th & Friday 6^th March

A storm that arrived in the northwest on Wednesday will continue tracking southeast through the US Rockies on Thursday before exiting late Friday. The storm, which started wet and warm, will see snow levels drop as a cold front now leads the charge. Snowfall will favour northern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Utah on Thursday and then Colorado on Friday. Totals will mostly range between 15-40cm in the central and northern US Rockies, with 40-50+cm possible in the most exposed terrain, particularly in Montana.

Leftover snow showers will give BC and the Cascades a further dusting before the storm exits the area on Thursday. But a new storm entering the northwest from late Thursday through Friday will bring a mix of rain and dense snow as a warm, humid air flows in from the Pacific. The bulk of this will fall in northern BC, with only light falls in southern BC, where most resorts are located.

Having received a few showers on Wednesday, Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada will stay dry for Thursday and Friday, while Arizona and New Mexico will only get a light dusting in their northern parts.

Saturday 7^th & Sunday 8^th March

This weekend, all the action will take place in the north. The warm storm that arrives here on Friday will become colder on Sunday as a cold front pushes down from the north. Once the cold front hits, snow levels will drop, and snow quality will improve.

Interior BC, the northern Cascades, and to a lesser extent, Alberta, will be favoured for the biggest accumulations of this quality powder during the latter half of Sunday, while Idaho, Montana and Wyoming will also see snow developing ahead of the cold front on the warm side of the storm.

Monday 9^th to Wednesday 11^th March

Most of the action continues in the north during this period, with the cold front pushing down into southern Idaho and Wyoming during Monday, where it’ll stall for a while. Areas north of this will be treated to light-to-moderate falls of smoky powder on Monday and Tuesday.

But on Wednesday, temperatures and snow levels will rocket up as a new, warmer storm enters the fray, bringing heavy low-to-mid-level rain and upper-level snow. The northern Cascades, in particular, are expected to get nailed. Thankfully, this injection of warm, humid air will be short-lived, and by the end of the day (Wednesday), temperatures will be hastily making their way down.

In the south, a weaker storm system will track over Arizona and New Mexico on Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures will be warm, so it’ll be a mix of rain and snow for resorts there. If we’re lucky, some resorts could see moderate accumulations on their upper slopes.

That’s all from me today, and for the season. It’s been a blast and a pleasure being a part of it all. See you all in June when the Aussie and Kiwi seasons get underway.

Grasshopper