The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Australian Forecast – Storm of the Season to Dump Around Half a Metre or More

Published early Wednesday, 27^th August 2025

The storm of the season has begun. As expected, things have started wet and warm, with the leading front kicking off rain Tuesday evening. Rainfall figures are racking up as I write, check our snow reporters to see how much, but snow levels will gradually lower today, Wednesday, reaching base levels by the end of the day. We’ll then have heavy snowfalls till early Saturday, with leftovers still coming in over the weekend as strong winds start to ease.

Storm totals are expected to sit around 40-60cm, but a lot more is possible on the upper slopes, where some early rain will fall as snow and extras will blow in from the windward slopes. If you like storm riding, you’re in for a treat. Just keep an eye on operations and play it safe, as winds will reach severe gale force with blizzard conditions.

Wednesday 27^th August

Rain gradually turns to snow on mid- and upper slopes during the day as snow levels gradually lower to 1400-1600m throughout the day as cooler air spreads east, then to even lower levels at night. Gale to severe gale northwesterlies with blizzard conditions.

Thursday 28^th August

Powder Alert! Solid snowfall throughout the day, with snow levels starting around 1200-1300m gradually lifting to around 1300-1400m by the end of the day. Gale to severe gale northwesterlies with blizzard conditions continue.

Friday 29^th August

Powder Alert! Snow showers build into heavy snowfall through the latter half of the day as a frontal system passes over. Blizzard conditions again as northwesterlies rise to severe gale.

Saturday 30^th August

Heavy snowfall eases to snow showers early, becoming fewer and farther between throughout the day as gale southerlies gradually abate and turn southwest.

Sunday 31^st August

Snow showers and flurries linger, especially in western Victoria, as strong southwesterlies continue to ease. New South Wales resorts might even see sunny breaks.

Extended Forecast

Next week, we might see a few more snow flurries on Monday before high pressure moves in and clears things up for a few days. Strong northwesterlies will likely get going through the back half of the week as the next weather system approaches for the weekend.

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 – Spring Arrives with Strong Winds & Deep Powder

Published early Wednesday, 27^th August 2025

The run of fine weather in New Zealand is now at an end as we descend into a long, stormy, unsettled period that’ll see out winter and take us into spring. There’s a busy schedule of frontal systems lined up, which will bring fluctuating temperatures and bouts of rain, snow, and then sunshine. It’s classic spring-like weather for this part of the world, which strong winds are part and parcel of, with severe-gale force winds expected on Thursday and Saturday.

Through it all, Kiwi resorts will rack up some hefty snowfall totals by the end of Sunday, especially on the upper slopes and on those ski fields closest to the Main Divide, such as Treble Cone and Temple Basin, where up to 30-50+cm could accumulate, while 10-30cm is expected elsewhere in the South Island. Mt Ruapehu is also likely to see around half a metre or more on the upper slopes, and between 10-20cm lower down.

Wednesday 27^th August

A front approaching from the west will see cloud gradually increase over the Southern Lakes  while northwesterlies strengthen, reaching gale force in exposed areas. Snow showers start spilling over the Main Divide onto Treble Cone later in the afternoon before becoming more widespread over the Southern Lakes in the evening while turning to rain on lower slopes.

Canterbury won’t start seeing cloud until later in the afternoon, but northwest winds will rise to gale in exposed areas. Rain spreads over the region at night, although it will start off as snow on most ski fields.

Thursday 28^th August

Severe gale northwest winds will be howling as the front moves up the South Island, bringing a period of heavy rain and dense mid- to high-level snow to the Southern Lakes in the morning and then to Canterbury afterwards.

Winds drop off behind the front, leaving partly cloudy skies and a few showers of rain and upper-level snow, although that won’t happen until late in the day in Canterbury. Expect delayed openings and closures.

Friday 29^th August

Snow showers over the Southern Lakes lower below base levels in the morning as colder west-to-northwest winds arrive, and then gradually peter out later.

Mostly fine in Canterbury, but cloud near the Main Divide may affect some ski fields, and there’ll be snow showers about Temple Basin. Gale northwesters back off a touch in the morning.

Saturday 30^th August

Northwesterlies strengthen over the South Island again as a frontal system approaches, reaching severe gale in Canterbury. Snow showers will spill over the Main Divide throughout the day, becoming widespread and heavier at night.

Sunday 31^st August

A strong, cold southerly change will bring a dump of powder early in the morning, then skies will gradually clear as winds turn westerly. However, snow showers return to the southern Lakes later.

Extended Forecast

Classic, stormy spring-time weather will continue to affect NZ next week, and possibly early the following week, as strong, cold winds from the westerly quarter persist. Quick-moving fronts imbedded in the flow will bring frequent shots of powder to Kiwi ski fields, which could add up to deep totals in the end. However, winds will be a major factor and will likely cause disruptions to ski field operations, so be sure to stay in the loop.

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.