The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Australian Forecast – Skies clear this Weekend Before the Next Storm Approaches

Published early Friday, 22^nd August 2025

After a top-up of fresh powder, and then a run of stunning, clear, calm and cold days to start the week, winds from the northeast quarter arrived on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing warmer temps and some cloud and light showers to the Aussie Alps, especially in New South Wales, creating more spring-like snow conditions.

It’ll be a similar story for today, Friday, as the weakest of fronts brushes past, followed by slightly cooler temps on Saturday, which should allow the snow guns to fire up the following couple of nights as high pressure clears out the muck for clear skies on Sunday and Monday. Northwesterlies then strengthen on Tuesday ahead of the next big storm cycle, which is picked to be a doozy – all the deets on that are in the extended forecast.

Friday 22^nd August

A mostly cloudy day with patchy light drizzle developing and northerly winds.

Saturday 23^rd August

Mt Baw Baw will see some rain showers, but elsewhere it’ll be a partly sunny, partly cloudy day, with only a light shower or two possible. Southwest winds ease.

Sunday 24^th August

Any cloud about the resorts clears early for a mint, sunny day, while southerly breezes die out.

Monday 25^th August

Nice and sunny again, with a light northwest breeze developing.

Tuesday 26^th August

Clouds build over the Aussie Alps as northwest winds strengthen, reaching gale force in exposed areas. Rain spreads east over western Victoria from late afternoon, then elsewhere after dark.

Extended Forecast

Stormy conditions are expected to persist for the remainder of next week into early the following week, as a series of low-pressure systems passing by in the Southern Ocean extend up into the Aussie Alps.

Models are fairly well aligned, and expect rain will gradually turn to snow during Wednesday and Thursday, the 27^th and 28^th of August, as a few cold fronts hit, with snowfall continuing until around Monday the 1^st, or Tuesday the 2^nd of September. It’s still early days, but if the current forecast holds, we’ll enter spring with a nice thick layer of fresh powder.

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

Grasshopper

New Zealand Forecast – A Nice Run of Clear Winter Days Ahead

Published early Friday, 22^nd August 2025

NZ is humming after an icy-cold southerly blast laid down a fresh blanket of 10-25cm of high-quality powder over most ski fields. Mt Lyford and Turoa bore the brunt of the storm and have topped the charts with 45cm and 50cm totals, respectively.

South Island ski fields can now sit back and reap the rewards as a big high-pressure cell moves over the country, bringing beautiful, clear winter days from now till Monday. Winds will be light, and frosty overnight temps will allow the snow guns to keep the groomers in good nick. On Tuesday, northwesterlies pick up, signalling that the settled spell is ending and unsettled weather is coming.

In the north, Mt Ruapehu won’t be too bad either, with a mix of sunshine, cloud and the odd snow flurry or shower expected each day as cold southeast winds turn northeast this weekend.

Friday 22^nd August

A stunning, clear winter’s day, while cold southerly breezes drop away.

Saturday 23^rd August

Clear, sunny and calm with a frosty start for South Island ski fields.

Sunday 24^th August

Another stellar day for South Island ski fields with clear, sunny skies, light winds and a frosty start.

Monday 25^th August

Another fine day for South Island ski fields with some high cloud overhead, while light northwest breezes develop.

Tuesday 26^th August

Fine with high cloud again as northwest winds pick up.

Extended Forecast

This nice settled spell is expected to end around the middle of next week as the next storm cycle gets underway, potentially lasting through to early the following week – the first few days of September. There’s a lot going on, and snow levels are expected to jump around a fair bit as a whole swag of storm systems sweep over the country, bringing bouts of rain, snow and strong winds.

Models are more aligned compared to earlier forecasts and suggest snow accumulations during this period could be significant. It’ll be a great boost for the tail end of the season, but we’ll have to wait closer to the time before locking it in, as models tend to get carried away this far out.

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

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.