The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Australian Forecast – A Great End to a Great Season

Published early Friday, 3^rd October 2025

Snow came in as expected during the early hours on Thursday with resorts reporting a few cents had gathered by the time they opened. Another 5cm had stacked up on Perisher’s snow stake before the snow cleared Thursday night. It’s a great wee addition to the snowpack that will see us nicely through the last four days of the season. Mt Buller, Hotham and Falls Creek will have their grand finale’s on Sunday, Thredbo and Perisher have theirs on Monday, which is a public holiday for Labour Day.

This is the final forecast of the season, which starts off with windy, mucky conditions today in Victoria, a fine start in NSW, Friday, before high pressure moves in for a warm, sunny weekend, though winds strengthen for Closing Day in Victoria on Sunday. Closing Day in NSW will have a wet, blustery start as a front passes over early Monday morning, but skies will brighten again for the season’s final turns.

Friday 3^rd October

Cloudy, clagged-in conditions with snow flurries in western Victoria, spreading elsewhere in the afternoon while turning wet and drizzly about lower and mid slopes. Strong southwesterly winds in exposed areas back off a touch.

Saturday 4^th October

A ridge of high pressure brings nice, sunny skies with a little high cloud while southwest winds gradually swing northwest.

Sunday 5^th October

Closing Day for Mt Buller, Hotham and Falls Creek will be dry with increasing high cloud. However, warm northwest winds strengthen, so keep an eye on lift operations.

Monday 6^th October

Closing Day for Thredbo and Perisher will start with a little rain and strong northwest winds as a front passes over first thing in the morning. Behind the front, we’ll be left with partly cloudy skies with sunny spells, and lighter westerly breezes.

That’s all from me for today and the season, folks. It’s been an absolute pleasure sharing all the highs and lows with you. I’m taking off to hibernate in the back country, but I’ll be back sometime in December when the northern hemisphere season starts cranking. See you then!

Grasshopper

New Zealand Forecast – A Stormy End To The Season

Published early Friday, 3^rd October 2025

Well folks, we made it. This is the last forecast of the season. Cardrona and Mt Olympus close this Sunday, leaving The Remarkables and Mt Hutt to hold the fort down south until they also close next Sunday. Whakapapa and Turoa will remain open until the 26^th of October. So make the most of it while you can.

The riding continues to be exceptional in the Southern Lakes after the region scored a couple of 10-20cm powder dumps on Sunday and Tuesday night. Mt Hutt also received 5cm on Wednesday, while Mt Ruapehu had a dusting.

We’ll sneak in some nice weather for a great Friday session ahead of a Tasman Low crossing the country this weekend, bringing a mix of rain and snow. Colder southerlies arriving on the South Island late Saturday will give the Southern Lakes and Canterbury a top-up of dense snow through into Sunday.

Conditions deteriorate on Monday as strong, stormy westerlies once again arrive on Kiwi slopes, with fronts and gales expected to rattle ski fields throughout the week. However, the Southern Lakes in particular will pick up some nice shots of powder in the process.

Friday 3^rd October

A mostly clear, sunny morning up in the mountains, with low cloud filling the valleys and plains. Cloud then builds ahead of a Tasman Low, which spreads rain southwards over Mt Ruapehu in the afternoon as westerlies swing north. After dark, the rain spreads over the South Island, falling as snow to mid-levels or lower in the Southern Lakes. South Island ski fields will also have light breezes from the northerly quarter.

Saturday 4^th October

A bit of a soggy day as the Tasman low continues to cross the country, bringing periods of rain to the ski fields. However, dense snow will fall to around mid-levels for the Southern Lakes, where there’ll be a cooler southeast breeze. Winds will come from the northwest for Mt Ruapehu, and northeast for Canterbury.

In the evening, snow levels fall to base levels across the South Island as a colder southerly arrives. A little snow will also fall about mid- and upper-slopes of Mt Ruapehu before drying up overnight.

Sunday 5^th October

Snowfall across the South Island clears the Southern Lakes in the afternoon and Canterbury at night as the low pulls away to the east, allowing chilly southerly winds to start easing. The winds will be strong in Canterbury throughout day, which might affect lift operations. This low is likely to deliver a top-up of between 5 and 20cm from base to summit. Overall, not a bad one for Closing Day at Cardrona.

Showers of rain and upper-level snow kick up over Mt Ruapehu in the afternoon, then clear at night shortly after northwesterlies turn southerly.

Monday 6^th October

Not a bad start for the South Island, but conditions will quickly deteriorate as a front approaches from the west, likely affecting lift operations. Cloud increases and northwest winds rapidly strengthen, reaching severe-gale in exposed spots, before the front spreads rain northwards during the afternoon with heavy falls on the cards. A colder westerly change at night will see the rain transition to snow.

Mt Ruapehu will see a bit of cloud and a few light showers, falling as snow about mid- to upper-slopes, while westerly winds pick up.

Tuesday 7^th October

Snow showers over the Southern Lakes taper off, then clear in the afternoon with sunny skies, as brisk, chilly southwesterlies gradually swing northwest. A few more snow showers will show up at night.

Mt Hutt will score a fresh dusting of snow, thanks to a brief southwest change. Other than that, skies will be mostly clear, but winds will start strong from the northwest which may delay things.

Mt Ruapehu will cop a load of heavy rain before opening as the front passes over. Showers of snow and low-level rain will continue throughout the day with strong westerly winds.

Extended Forecast

Strong, unsettled westerlies will persist through to the end of next week, marring the season’s final days for The Remarkables and Mt Hutt, where lift operations will likely be affected. Gales will be the norm, with peaks in wind strength coming ahead of a couple of passing frontal systems due around late Thursday/Friday and next weekend. Expect a bout of rain followed by snow with both systems as they bring a dip in temperatures.

That’s all from me for today and the season, folks. It’s been an absolute pleasure sharing all the highs and lows with you. I’m taking off to hibernate in the back country, but I’ll be back sometime in December when the northern hemisphere season starts cranking. See you then!

Grasshopper

Weekly Japan Forecast – Big Boxing Day Special for Central Honshu, Persistent Snowfall Racks up in the North

Written Friday morning, 26^th December (Japan Standard Time)

Temperatures across Japan have been running warm since late last week and the weekend, and there’s been little snow to speak of. Snow depths across the country are at low tide, particularly down low, where the snowpack has suffered from significant melt and rain.

In keeping with the tradition of giving to the needy on Boxing Day, a storm that has just gotten underway in the early hours will see Central Honshu resorts receiving the much-needed gift of around 40 to 80 cm, the largest dump of the season so far. Hokkaido and Northern Honshu will also receive 25-50+ cm before the storm clears up on Sunday.

Hokkaido and Northern Honshu will continue to rack up the totals from Tuesday through Thursday, thanks to persistent cold winds off the continent. However, Central Honshu will sit on the cusp of this cold air and will pick up scraps with rain often affecting the lower slopes.

 Friday 26^th to Sunday 28^th December

After a mild Christmas Day brought rain and upper-level snow to many resorts, Boxing Day won’t disappoint. Strong, cold north-to-northwest winds hit the country early on Friday for what will be the biggest powder day of the week and season so far for central Honshu. Snow will come down heavily throughout the day, improving in quality, then start backing off overnight before clearing from the south on Saturday. A little more snow will fall early Sunday before high pressure clears things up proper, with calm, sunny conditions making for one heck of a powder day. Storm totals for the region are likely to come in around 40 to 80 cm for most resorts.

Further north in northern Honshu and on Hokkaido, resorts will see more persistent moderate snowfall through to early Sunday, with increasing pressure then breaking up the cloud cover to sneak in some sunshine. Storm totals are expected to get up around 25-50+ cms.

Monday 29^th & Tuesday 30^th December

On Monday, the high drifts out east, allowing a warmer south-to-southwest flow to move in. Rain and upper-level snow spread over Hokkaido early in the day before spreading down Honshu later, eventually reaching central parts at night, where it would have otherwise been a sunny day.

Colder west-to-northwestelies sweep down over Hokkaido and northern Honshu on Tuesday, bringing light-to-moderate snowfall, while rain and upper-level snow continue over central Honshu.

Wednesday 31^st December & Thursday 1^st January

Things become less certain during this period, but Hokkaido and northern Honshu are likely to see decent totals as cold winds off the continent continue pushing in consistent and high-quality snowfall.

Central Honshu will likely sit on the cusp of this colder air, causing snow levels to bounce around at slightly elevated altitudes. Totals are expected to be light and focused nearer to the Sea of Japan coast.

That’s all from me today, folks. Have a great week, and I’ll see you here next Thursday for another weekly rundown of Japan’s highlights and snowlights.

Grasshopper

Weekly North America Forecast – Zero to Hero for Sierras as Christmas Storm Continues, Moderate Totals Elsewhere

Written Thursday afternoon, 25^th December (Pacific Standard Time)

Thursday 25^th to Sunday 28^th December

A storm kicked off in the Sierra Nevada Range on Christmas Eve (yesterday) with off-the-charts snowfall rates. Mammoth reported a storm tally of 130 cm by Christmas morning, and similar totals can be found at the Tahoe resorts, which also picked up more snow in the days preceding. The storm will start to turn cold on Friday as snowfall rates ease, eventually clearing completely overnight Friday, leaving another 40-75+ cm for most resorts.

The storm will also bring moderate snow totals to most other areas of Western North America as it expands north and tracks eastwards. The last of the snowfall will eventually dry up in Colorado and northern New Mexico as cold, dry air and high pressure fill the void left by the storm’s exit to the east.

The next storm will roll down northern BC/Alberta over the weekend, bringing milder southwesterly winds and lifting snow levels.

Monday 29^th December to Thursday 1^st January

Monday through Wednesday, the lead up to the New Year, storm activity will be restricted to the north, where the bulk of precipitation will fall along the Alaskan Coastline and northern BC. Here, mild, moisture-laden south-to-southwest winds will bring moderate falls and elevated snow levels, with lighter falls reaching further south into the northern Cascades, Idaho and Montana from late Tuesday as the storm starts to turn colder and expand southwards. The cold air pushes further south in the west, where it should reach the Tahoe resorts by late New Year’s Day.

A weak storm is also picked to brush the far south on New Year’s Day, giving resorts in Arizona and New Mexico a much-needed dusting.

That’s all from me today, folks. Have a great week, and I’ll see you back here next Thursday for another weekly rundown of North America’s highlights and snowlights.

Grasshopper