The Grasshopper – The Latest Snow Forecast

Australian Forecast – Another Blow to the Snowpack Before a Little Fresh Snow This Weekend

Published early Friday, 4^th September 2026

Our thin snowpack took another hammering Wednesday night when a passing front brought rain and strong, warm northwest winds. New South Wales bore the brunt, with 22–33mm filling the gauges, while Victoria got off lighter with only a little rain. As a result, Charlotte Pass will have its last hurrah on Saturday and Hotham, Falls Creek and Buller on Sunday, joining Baw Baw and Selwyn, which fell victim some time ago. It’s been a lean winter to say the least, but we were doing OK until all the rain and wind of the last couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, things aren’t going to get any better, with an OK Friday giving way to a gnarly storm overnight into Saturday. Heavy rain and gale-to-severe-gale northwest winds will deal another big blow to the already fragile snowpack, potentially putting the nail in the coffin for some resorts.

There is a little reward at the end, though, as colder air arrives later Saturday and turns the rain to snow about the mid and upper slopes. Around 2-10cm of fresh snow could accumulate up high before things dry out Sunday morning, with sunshine breaking out. From there, high pressure settles things down nicely for a mostly sunny work week.

Friday 4^th September

An OK sort of a day with partly cloudy skies, a possible light shower or two, and brisk northwest winds. The worst comes overnight as a storm system moves in, bringing rain and gales.

Saturday 5^th September

It’ll be a gnarly day, especially during the morning, as a strong storm system passes over, bringing heavy rain and gale-to-severe-gale northwest winds. It’ll deal another heavy blow to the snowpack and may even be the nail in the coffin for some resorts.

Conditions start to improve late in the day as cooler westerlies arrive, with precipitation easing to lighter snow showers about the mid and upper slopes.

Sunday 6^th September

Remaining drizzle and mid-upper flurries dry up during the morning as strong southwesterlies die away, leaving between 2-10cm of fresh snow up high. Clouds then clear for a sunny afternoon.

Monday 7^th September

Clouds clear in the morning for a sunny day, but it’ll linger for a bit longer on Mt Buller, where there could be a light shower or two late morning. Brisk southwesterlies gradually turn south.

Tuesday 8^th September

Nice and sunny with a little afternoon cloud as southerly breezes die away.

Extended Forecast

High pressure will keep things fine and settled through mid-next week before drifting away over the weekend, opening the door for storms to return. Models aren’t well aligned this far out, but the unsettled weather will likely start warm and wet, with a chance of a colder change and some snow sometime the following week. It may be too little, too late to save our bacons, mind you.

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 –  Stormy Spring Pattern Keeps the Powder Coming, with a Juicy Canterbury Dump

Published early Friday, 4^th September 2026

The stormy start to spring continues with more strong winds, rain and snow in the mix. The South Island gets the best of the snow initially, with a cold change delivering around 2–8cm to most ski fields on Friday, followed by another similar top-up on Saturday. Unfortunately, strong to severe-gale winds will continue causing headaches for lift operations, especially in Canterbury, while Mt Ruapehu cops a wet and very windy Friday followed by some pretty average weather over the weekend.

The main event arrives Sunday as a stronger, slow-moving storm rolls in. After an initially wet and windy start, colder air sneaking in from the south and east will turn rain to snow across the South Island, with around 5–10cm expected in the Southern Lakes and a much juicier 10–30cm dump possible across Canterbury through into Monday. Mt Ruapehu won’t fare so well, with rain and strong winds giving the snowpack another hammering Sunday night.

Tuesday will be the nicest, calmest day of the bunch, but there’s a lot more cold and snowy weather on the cards later next week.

Friday 4^th September

A front crosses the South Island during the wee hours before opening time, bringing a burst of heavy rain. Colder air sweeps in behind it during the morning, turning the rain to lighter snow showers spilling east from the Main Divide before retreating west again in the evening.

Most ski fields should pick up around 2–8cm of fresh snow, although Mt Hutt will be lucky to receive a skiff, if anything, with the bulk of the snow falling closer to the Main Divide in Canterbury. Westerlies remain strong and may continue to affect lift operations, particularly in Canterbury where severe gales are expected in exposed areas.

It’ll be an awful day for Mt Ruapehu as the front from the south crosses around midday, bringing severe-gale northwesterlies and rain. Conditions improve somewhat behind it as the rain clears, although strong westerlies will stick around.

Saturday 5^th September

Another surge of strong northwest winds will see spillover snow showers return to the Southern Lakes around dawn, then spread up Canterbury during the morning, bringing another 2–8cm before retreating west again in the afternoon.

In Canterbury, however, rising snow levels will turn things wet on the mid and lower slopes, while Mt Hutt stays dry beneath high cloud. Gale-to-severe-gale winds will also cause more trouble for lift operations.

Brisk westerlies on Mt Ruapehu will keep skies mostly cloudy, with some drizzly afternoon showers that’ll fall as snow on the upper slopes.

Sunday 6^th September

A stronger, slow-moving storm system moves onto the South Island early, initially bringing a mix of rain and high-level snow before snow levels rise. Canterbury will bear the brunt of the storm, with heavy precipitation and severe-gale northwesterlies yet again.

As the storm drifts north, light, cold south-to-southeasterlies sneak into the Southern Lakes during the afternoon and spread up Canterbury in the evening, turning rain to snow. Around 5–10cm should fall across the Southern Lakes, while Canterbury could score a much bigger 10–30cm dump through into Monday.

Drizzly showers continue throughout the day on Mt Ruapehu as northwest winds pick up. A front crosses overnight, bringing a bout of heavier rain and strong winds that will hit the snowpack.

Monday 7^th September

Light easterlies may have the Southern Lakes clagged in with cloud during the morning, with a few snow flurries possible. Skies brighten in the afternoon as winds swing northwest, lifting the cloud base.

Heavy snowfall in Canterbury gradually eases and then clears from the south as southerlies die away, with skies brightening in the afternoon as clouds break up.

Rain on Mt Ruapehu eases early as northwest winds ease, but picks up again in the afternoon as southerlies develop.

Tuesday 8^th September

A grey, cloudy morning for South Island ski fields before skies clear to a sunny afternoon with light winds.

A much nicer day for Mt Ruapehu with some afternoon cloud while southerlies die out.

Extended Forecast

The weather stays cold and stormy through to the end of next week, with plenty more snow on the cards. First, a strong, cold southwest flow spreads up the South Island on Wednesday the 9th and the North Island on Thursday the 10th, bringing a few days of snow showers.

Then, over the weekend of the 12th and 13th, an even colder surge straight out of Antarctica looks set to blast up the country, bringing another load of high-quality powder down to low levels. It’s a cracking outlook for snow, but it’ll be a bumpy ride.

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