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 – Settled till Wednesday, Rain & Snow Thursday

Published early Monday, 30^th June 2025

The Southern Lakes scored a solid 25-32cms from Friday night and Saturday’s storm, putting ski fields in a much better position. It was especially timely since it was Opening Weekend at Treble Cone, and when skies cleared up Sunday, you couldn’t have asked for more. There was an extra dusting Sunday night, for which we’re still waiting on morning reports.

Elsewhere, Canterbury copped a lot of rain, but still picked up around 10-15cms. Mt Ruapehu fared worse, with heavy rain and strong winds limiting operations, but somehow the fragile snowpack has made it through.

Monday through Wednesday will bring mostly fine, settled weather as a ridge of high pressure drifts across the country. On Thursday, a low in the Tasman will shove a front over the country, bringing a mix of mainly snow and a bit of rain to the South Island, as well as heavy rain and strong winds to Mt Ruapehu.

Monday 30^th June

Chilly west to southwest winds across the country will bring partly sunny, partly cloudy skies to the Southern Lakes. Cloud in Canterbury will clear up this afternoon, while Mt Ruapehu will be cloudy with drizzle at times, although the upper slopes may be clear.

Tuesday 1^st June

High pressure pushes in, clearing up any cloud affecting kiwi ski fields during the morning as chilly southwest winds ease over the country.

Wednesday 2^nd June

A fine day for ski fields on both Islands, but high cloud gradually increases throughout the day. Light west to northwest breezes for the South Island, while northerly winds pick up over Ruapehu.

Thursday 3^rd June

A front from the northwest moves over the country, bringing a mix of rain and snow to the South Island with strengthening northeast winds. The snow will be dense but may fall below base levels for a while. The southern Lakes are likely to receive a dusting of up to about 5cm, while Canterbury could score between 5-15cm if temperatures hold.

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

Extended Forecast

The Low in the Tasman will weaken significantly as it crosses the North Island on Friday and Saturday, bringing just showers to Mt Ruapehu. Meanwhile, a chilly southerly change could sneak up the South Island on Saturday and give Canterbury ski fields a light dusting of snow, before another ridge of high pressure gives us another settled spell for Sunday and next Monday.

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 Wednesday.

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.