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 –  Final Forecast of the Season with Spring Stunners & a Little Canterbury Snow Ahead

Published early Friday, 2^nd October 2026

Well folks, we’ve made it to the final NZ forecast of the season, although there are still plenty of turns left before the lifts stop spinning for winter.

It’s the final week at Coronet Peak and Ōhau, while Mt Olympus runs through to the 10^th of October, and The Remarkables and Mt Hutt through to the 11^th. Cardrona has extended its season until the 18^th, with Whakapapa and Tūroa aiming to keep the lifts spinning through to the 25^th, the long Labour Weekend.

Things get a little wild today, Friday, as northwesterlies crank up over the South Island, potentially hampering lifts before rain spreads into the Southern Lakes and eventually Canterbury. A colder change brings 1-5cm of wet snow to Canterbury early Saturday before things rapidly improve, setting up a cracking Sunday and Monday with sunshine, light winds and some mint spring skiing.

Looking further ahead, things become more unsettled again next week, with a stronger storm threatening the South Island next weekend. That could throw a spanner in the works for closing weekend at Mt Olympus, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt, although there should hopefully still be a decent window to squeeze in those final turns.

Friday 2^nd October

Northwesterlies crank up over the South Island, reaching gale force in exposed areas and potentially hampering lift operations, as a front to the south gathers some momentum and slowly creeps northwards. The front spreads rain over the Southern Lakes from late morning before clearing away early in the evening.

Cloud builds over Canterbury, with a few showers spilling over from the Main Divide during the afternoon before rain arrives from the south overnight.

Mt Ruapehu remains largely untouched by the action, with just some cloud possible around the lower slopes as southwesterlies pick up.

Saturday 3^rd October

The Southern Lakes ski fields will be clear and sunny above morning low cloud filling the valleys and basins, while light southerly breezes gradually die away.

Rain over Canterbury turns to wet, dense snow and sleet early in the morning as cooler south-to-southeasterlies arrive. That’ll gradually clear from the south during the afternoon as the front continues northwards, leaving around 1-5cm of wet, dense snow behind.

Conditions deteriorate on Mt Ruapehu, with showers arriving around midday before clearing during the evening as southwest winds swing around to the southeast.

Sunday 4^th October

A ridge of high pressure serves up a beaut sunny day for South Island ski fields, with barely a puff of wind. A perfect way to sign off a great season at Coronet Peak and Ōhau.

Mt Ruapehu also starts off nicely, but cloud will materialise during the afternoon, with a few spits of rain or drizzle possible, although winds remain light.

Monday 5^th October

Another stunning blue-dome day for the South Island under the influence of high pressure, with a light northwest breeze kicking in.

Mt Ruapehu will be mint too, with mostly sunny skies and light breezes.

Tuesday 6^th October

Northwesterlies pick up over the South Island as the high moves out east and a storm system approaches from the west, bringing a little cloud to the Southern Lakes on an otherwise sunny day.

Light northerly breezes over Mt Ruapehu will bring mostly cloudy skies and a few light, drizzly showers.

Extended Forecast

The front approaching from the west on Tuesday moves onto the lower South Island on Wednesday the 7^th and lingers into Thursday the 8th before gradually dissipating. This will bring a few showers to the Southern Lakes, while Canterbury and Mt Ruapehu stay mostly fine and dry.

A stronger storm system is earmarked to hit the South Island next weekend, the 10^th and 11^th of October, bringing a bout of rain and strong northwest winds. That’s not ideal for closing weekend at Mt Olympus, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt, but the storm shouldn’t consume the entire weekend, hopefully leaving a decent window to sneak in those final turns of the season.

That’s all from me this season, folks. It was a slow start, but it’s turned out to be a great season overall. Enjoy these final few weeks and squeeze in a few more turns if you can.

As for me, I’m off for a short hibernation nap until things start cranking up in the Northern Hemisphere. See you then.

The Grasshopper, signing out!

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