The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Australian Forecast – More Soggy than Snow as East Coast Low Turns Warmer

Published early Wednesday, 2^nd July 2025

An East Coast low will dump a whole swag of precip onto the Aussie Alps today, Wednesday, and Thursday. Things aren’t looking as good as the previous forecast, as temperatures are now looking a little warmer. As a result, snow levels will mostly stick above 1800m, although there’s a bit of uncertainty about that. The tops could receive a sizable dump of dense snow, while mid and lower slopes will likely come away much worse off.

A ridge of high pressure will give us a couple of nice days, Friday and Saturday. A weak low-pressure system then passes over on Sunday, dragging in a few showers, which may fall as snow about the tops again.

Wednesday 2^nd July

A wet and grotty day, with a whole swag of rain and strong southerly winds. The rain will fall as dense snow up high at times, mostly above about 1800m, morning and night.

Thursday 3^rd July

Rain and high-level snow gradually eases and clears throughout the day, first in Victoria and then New South Wales, while southerly winds back off. Snow levels will mostly sit above 1700-1800m.

Friday 4^th July

Remaining cloud cover will clear early for a fine, sunny day. Northwest breezes develop.

Saturday 5^th July

Mostly sunny again, with northwest winds.

Sunday 6^th July

A few showers of rain, possibly falling as snow up high, while northerly winds gradually die away.

Extended Forecast

Better news for next week. From Tuesday, the 8th, to Friday, the 11th, a series of active cold fronts from the west will pass over the Australian Alps, bringing what could be a solid dump of snow. Models have been tracking well, and are currently picking around half a metre of powder. Keep those fingers and toes crossed!

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

Grasshopper

New Zealand Forecast – Another Top-Up for the South Island, More Rain for Ruapehu

Published early Wednesday, 2^nd July 2025

We’ve had a couple of gorgeous days here in Zealandia, but clouds will start to gather today, Wednesday, as another low in the Tasman approaches. The low will send a front over the country on Thursday, bringing a mix of mainly snow and a bit of rain to the South Island, while Mt Ruapehu cops heavy rain and strong winds.

The low will bring more rain to Mt Ruapehu on Friday and Saturday as it crosses the North Island. Meanwhile, cooler southerlies spread over the South Island, turning light rainfall in Canterbury into snow from late Saturday into Sunday.

Wednesday 2^nd July

A fine day with northwest breezes for South Island ski fields, but high cloud gradually increases throughout the day as a front from the northwest approaches.

Mt Ruapehu will turn cloudy in the morning as northerly winds strengthen, although the upper slopes may remain clear. Drizzle will start in the evening.

Thursday 3^rd July

The front from the northwest moves over the country, bringing snow to the South Island for much of the day, while northeast winds strengthen. However, the snow will be dense, and in Canterbury, it’ll fall as rain on mid-lower slopes at the start and end of the day, on either side of a dip in snow levels. The southern Lakes are likely to receive between 5 and 15 cms, while Canterbury could score between 10 and 30 cms, dispersed between the lower and upper slopes.

It’ll be a horrible day for Mt Ruapehu, with heavy rain and gale-force northerly winds likely limiting operations. Not what they need right now.

Friday 4^th July

Skies will remain fairly cloudy over the South Island, and there’ll be some light scattered rain, most likely around the middle of the day. Light winds for the Southern Lakes, and a mild northwest breeze for Canterbury.

More rain for Mt Ruapehu with strong northwest winds.

Saturday 5^th July

A cloudy day for the South Island, with light rain in Canterbury turning to light snow late, as cooler southerly winds develop.

Rain on Mt Ruapehu clears during the latter half of the day, as northwest winds ease.

Sunday 6^th July

Cloud clears the Southern Lakes early for a fine day with light winds.

Light snowfall in Canterbury gradually clears as the southerly breeze dies away, but it’ll remain cloudy.

Southerly winds will keep skies cloudy over Mt Ruapehu.

Extended Forecast

Next Week, an unsettled Tasman Sea will direct a mild northerly flow over the country, bringing some rain, and possibly high-level snow to South Island ski fields. Colder southerlies arriving next weekend could bring higher quality snow, ranging from a dusting to a dump, with Canterbury currently favoured by models

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

Grasshopper

The Grasshopper has wrapped up his weekly Japan forecasts for for the 2024/25 season. He’s having a couple of months R&R and will be back in June with his Australian and New Zealand  forecasts.

And, of course, Japan’s best snow forecasts will resume in December 2025.

The Grasshopper has wrapped up his weekly NorthAmerican forecasts for for the 2024/25 season. He’s having a couple of months R&R and will be back in June with his Australian and New Zealand  forecasts.

And, of course, our North American snow forecasts will resume in December 2025.