Weather
‘Stormin’ Norman‘ brought six days of mostly cold and snowy weather, with accumulations at resorts in Australia reaching up to three feet resulting in a great start-of-winter snow which is being branded ‘Japan-like’ by the country’s snow enthusiasts.
Australian ski areas opened a fortnight ago with very little snow cover and warm temperatures, so little in-fact that their New Zealand neighbors were poking fun at them, but things changed dramatically a few days later with what is widely being described as ‘the snowiest start to the season for 18 years.’
Bases are reported to have reached more than 30″ already at ski areas including Falls Creek and Mount Hotham, and the cold weather is expected to continue even though the snowfall should ease off over the coming days, giving Aussie areas a great start to winter 2018.
Despite all the snow, most resorts have limited terrain open right now, but that is rapidly changing and Perisher expects to run 32 lifts by the weekend.
Over in New Zealand, the big news is that Treble Cone will be opening this weekend, a week earlier than originally planned. Treble Cone Ski Area is the largest ski field on New Zealand’s South Island and is home to the longest vertical rise in Queenstown’s Southern Lakes District. Renowned for its dry snow, long runs, great off-piste terrain, and spectacular views, Treble Cone Ski Area is located only 35 minutes from the beautiful lakeside town of Wanaka and 90 minutes from Queenstown.
