The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Australian Forecast – Winter is Back with More Powder on the Way  

Published early Friday, 24^th July 2026

Winter made a welcome return on Thursday, with cold westerlies whipping up a 1-2cm dusting before breaky, followed by a couple more centimetres throughout the day.

West-to-southwest winds persist Friday into Sunday as storm systems sliding underneath us continue to bring light snow showers, which turn wet about lower altitudes on Saturday as warmer air sneaks in.

Northwest winds and showers of rain and snow build during Monday and Tuesday, before a cold change comes through Tuesday night, giving us a shot of around 5-15cm of powder. It’ll be a timely top-up, and the snow guns will fire up on all cylinders as cold temperatures are expected to persist for a few more days afterwards.

Friday 24^th July

A mostly cloudy day, especially in Victoria, where snow flurries continue with another 1-2cm accumulating, although Mt Baw Baw could receive 4-5cm. New South Wales may also see a few snow flurries if we’re lucky. Strong west-to-southwest winds will be icy cold, which should keep the snow guns blazing.

Saturday 25^th July

Another grey, cloudy day with brisk west-to-southwest winds. Showers in western Victoria spread east through the day, reaching New South Wales in the evening, where they’ll be brief and light. The showers will fall as snow above about 1800m, but lower to mid slopes in the evening, and they’ll be most persistent about Mt Baw Baw and Buller as they’ll be in the firing line with a damp day lined up.

Sunday 26^th July

Clouds gradually break up and clear New South Wales and eastern Victoria for a sunny afternoon as west-to-southwest winds die away. However, cloud will persist in western Victoria for a grey, clagged-in day at Mt Baw Baw and Buller.

Monday 27^th July

Cloud and light showers gradually spread east as northwest winds pick up, with snow likely falling to mid slopes.

Tuesday 28^th July

Showers build into rain as northwest winds strengthen, with snow falling to mid slopes. A colder southwest change whips through after dark, bringing a 5-15cm shot of powder.

Extended Forecast

We’ll likely have some lingering light snow showers on Wednesday, the 29^th, before high pressure moves in for a fine settled end to the week. Temperatures will remain cold, so the snow guns will get a good run in. After that, models diverge wildly and uncertainty balloons too far out to make any calls.

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 couple of days, and I’ll see you back here on Sunday.

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