Australian Snowstorm Total Passes 50cm As 2025 Season Begins
Australian ski areas have had a dream start to the season as a major snowstorm, potentially the largest in three years, has moved in on an Antarctic polar weather system from the south.
A number of resorts reported their 48 hour snowfall total had passed 50cm (20”) by the end of the ski day on Sunday, June 8th. The snowstorm is continuing however with a further 20-40cm (8-16”) forecast over the next 36 hours.
Most Australian ski areas opened on Saturday with limited terrain available after weeks of largely dry, sometimes warm weather had limited snowmaking opportunities in the run up to the season start, but things quickly changed as conditions rapidly improved with more runs opening.
Falls Creek started its 2025 season on Sunday reporting 37cm (15”) in the previous 24 hours bringing their weekend storm total to 54cm. Overnight temperatures dipped to -3C, and the snowmaking guns ran through the night from 10.20pm.
“It’s been a thrilling weekend for everyone here at Falls Creek and witnessing so much snow fall in the village has warmed our hearts!”
Australian ski areas including Corin Forest, Mt Buller, Hotham, Perisher and Thredbo were amongst the first in the southern hemisphere to open for 2025. The season also got underway in New Zealand after a big snowfall there too with the Stratford Mountain Club’s Manganui Ski Area opening and Lesotho in Southern Africa’s Afriski appears to have opened a short run with snowmaking efforts too.