New Zealand Forecast – Flakes for the Final Days of the Season
Published early Friday, 11th of October 2024
Well, it’s the final few days of the season for South Island resorts, and we couldn’t ask for better conditions. After receiving a dusting of snow on Wednesday, skies cleared up on Thursday with some of the best spring skiing we’ve seen in years. Cold temperatures will maintain that quality in the coming days, with mainly fine weather for Friday and Saturday, except a few fun light snow showers over the Southern Lakes Saturday afternoon.
More snowflakes will come down on Sunday for a perfect ending to a long and successful season. Light, cold southerlies will bring a dusting for the Southern Lakes while Canterbury is expected receive a more substantial 5-15+ cm.
Mt Ruapehu is also looking much better after some fresh snow the last couple of days. The upper slopes of Whakapapa and Turoa will continue to operate until the 27th of October, and further snow showers up there over the next few days should improve things even more. Those showers will be wet on the lower slopes, however, so it’ll be a damp ending to a challenging season for Whakapapa’s Happy Valley, which is scheduled to close on Sunday.
Friday 11th October
A fairly cloudy day for the Southern Lakes with plenty of blue sky early and late, and a sunny one for Canterbury. Northwest winds will be quite strong in exposed areas of the Southern Lakes, and in Canterbury in the morning.
Another calm day for Mt Ruapehu, but showers will kick off from late morning until evening. Some showers may be heavy with thunderstorms in the afternoon, and it’ll fall as snow about mid and upper slopes.
Saturday 12th October
Apart from a few light snow showers over the Southern Lakes in the afternoon, it’ll be mostly sunny for South Island resorts, although northwest winds will be fairly strong in exposed areas. There’ll be a few more light snow showers over the Southern Lakes at night.
A fine start for Mt Ruapehu, but clouds will build later in the morning before showers of rain and high-level snow get going in the afternoon as southwest winds pick up.
Sunday 13th October
Light but cold southerlies over the South Island will bring partly cloudy skies and a few light snow showers to the Southern Lakes. Snow will spread over Canterbury in the morning, with about 5-15+ cm expected to accumulate before clearing at night.
A cloudy day for Mt Ruapehu with snow developing early afternoon, falling as rain about the lower slopes. Westerly winds turn northerly.
Extended Forecast
Next week, Mt Ruapehu will see frequent top-ups of high level snow as numerous weather systems affect the North Island. This will benefit the upper slopes that remain open on Whakapapa and Turoa.
Although South Island resorts will be closed by this time, a cold southerly change will bring a dump of snow during Tuesday into early Wednesday, followed by two or three days of fine, settled weather for those wanting to hike some runs.
That’s all from me today and for the season, folks. Thanks for reading along this season. I’m heading off to hibernate but will resurface when the northern hemisphere starts firing up.
Grasshopper
