The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Australian Forecast – Winter Keeps Chipping Away with More Snow & Snowmaking on the Way

Published early Sunday, 26^th July 2026

Wintry conditions saw resorts pick up a dusting of around 2-5cm during Thursday and Friday, while the snow guns had a go at it. However, niggly winds from the west-southwest blowing across the line of chair lifts caused some to go on wind hold.

Sunday and Monday will be mostly fine as a ridge of high pressure swings past, and with improved snow conditions and continued snowmaking overnight, it’ll be a great time to head up.

The next storm system crosses during Tuesday and Wednesday, giving us a top-up of around 5-15cm. Snowfall and northwest winds build during Tuesday, although it turns wet on the lower slopes before a cold southwest change overnight whips through, bringing a burst of snow to low levels.

Cold winds persist into Wednesday and Thursday, with lingering snow showers, especially for Mt Baw Baw, so the snow guns will get another good long run in and conditions will continue to improve.

Sunday 26^th July

Clouds gradually break up during the morning for a mostly sun-filled day, but they’ll linger a bit longer in Victoria. Brisk west-to-southwest winds gradually die away.

Monday 27^th July

A mostly sunny day, apart from some cloud in Victoria affecting Mt Buller and Baw Baw. Northwest breezes develop.

Tuesday 28^th July

Light snowfall to around 1500-1600m develops during the morning as northwest winds become strong, then builds into heavier falls during the latter half of the day as snow levels lift to 1600-1800m.

It’ll be a wet day down on the lower slopes, but a cold west-to-southwest change whips through overnight, bringing a quick burst of snow to low levels. Throughout the day and night, we should pick up around 5-15cm of fresh snow dispersed from low to high altitudes, although we’ll likely see less at 1500m and below.

Wednesday 29^th July

Resorts will receive another dusting from light snow showers lingering until around evening, interspersed with a little sunshine, as strong, cold southwesterlies gradually ease. The snow showers will be more persistent at Mt Baw Baw where 5-10cm could accumulate.

Thursday 30^th July

A mostly fine day, with chilly southerly breezes, although Mt Baw Baw will be more in the firing line and will remain cloudy and could see a few more snow showers.

Extended Forecast

After the top-up of snow this week, we’ll score a run of fine weather during Friday and the weekend as high pressure drifts overhead. Overnight temperatures will get nice and cold for the snow guns to add more of their crystal dust, so conditions will be great.

The next storm is expected to cross sometime between Monday the 3^rd and Friday the 7^th of August. The system is expected to bring a bout of cold air with light snow showers at the least, but there’s the potential for something more, if we’re lucky.

That’s all from me today, folks. I’m firing out these forecasts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the season, and an extra update on Sundays during peak season. Have a great day, and I’ll see you back here on Monday.

Grasshopper

New Zealand Forecast –  Icy, Powderly Blast Incoming, Followed by a Cracker Run of Winter Weather

Published early Friday, 24^th July 2026

The weather gradually deteriorated on Thursday ahead of a strong front, which crossed over the Southern Lakes Thursday evening, and is about halfway up Canterbury at the time of writing in these wee hours of Friday. The front, bringing mostly heavy rain and strong northwest winds, will have cleared Canterbury by Friday breaky time before going on to ravage Mt Ruapehu in the afternoon.

Fortunately, cold winds sweep in behind this initial front, including an icy southerly blast shooting up the country on Saturday, bringing high-quality powder to low levels. From this icy blast, the Southern Lakes will pick up 2-5cm of powder, while Canterbury should score 5-15cm, and Mt Ruapehu 15-30cm.

The slopes will be in good nick and snow guns will continue firing as high pressure then builds on Sunday, bringing mostly fine, cold winter weather through Tuesday.

Friday 24^th July

Another front crossing the South Island gives the Southern Lakes a dusting of snow during the morning. Skies brighten in the afternoon as northwest winds ease, but there could be a few more snow flurries, especially on Treble Cone. An icy cold southerly change at night will bring a wee 2-5cm shot of quality powder to low levels.

The front moves up Canterbury through the day, bringing a period of rain and snow to upper and possibly mid slopes. For Mt Hutt and the Craigieburn Range ski fields, this will happen in the afternoon. The heaviest falls will be closer to the Main Divide, where snow levels will also be lowest. Strong northwest winds may continue to affect lift ops, but they’ll start to back off later in the afternoon.

A stormy day for Mt Ruapehu as a front moves in. Showers build into heavy rain during the afternoon with snow falling on the upper slopes, while northwest winds rise to gale-force. Conditions back off a touch behind the front in the evening, and then rain gradually turns to snow overnight as colder westerlies arrive.

Saturday 25^th July

Any remaining snowfall over the Southern Lakes clears early for a mint, powder-filled day, while icy southerly winds die away.

Strong, cold southerlies sweep up Canterbury before dawn, bringing snowfall to low levels. The snow gradually eases and then clears from the south throughout the day as the winds die away, leaving 5-15+ cm of quality powder.

Snowfall on Mt Ruapehu eases during the morning, but picks up again in the afternoon as chilly westerly winds change southerly. The snow peters out at night as winds ease, leaving around 15-30cm of fresh powder, with more possible up high.

Sunday 26^th July

A gorgeous, clear, cold winter’s day for South Island ski fields as high pressure builds, with light winds and fresh snow to shred. The snow machines will get some good runtime.

Cloud and possible snow flurries on Mt Ruapehu clear to fine in the afternoon as drier southerlies develop.

Monday 27^th July

Another fine day for South Island ski fields, apart from some cloud over the Southern Lakes during the morning. Chilly breezes from the west for the Southern Lakes and from the south for Canterbury.

Brisk, chilly southerly winds on Mt Ruapehu will bring partly cloudy skies with a few snow showers possible.

Tuesday 28^th July

Fine again for the South Island, with a little cloud over the Southern Lakes with a westerly breeze. Light southerly breezes persist in Canterbury.

Cloud eventually clears Mt Ruapehu as chilly southerly winds ease.

Extended Forecast

The storm window is likely to swing open again from Wednesday the 29^th of July. Models aren’t well aligned, but after an initial bout of strong northwest winds, rain, and high-level snow, there’s a good chance cold air will flood in from the south, with potentially solid snowfall or snowfalls through into early August. It’s still early days, and we’ve been tricked before, but keep those boots and poles crossed as we could be in for some deep totals if current forecasts hold.

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

Grasshopper

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