Global Weekly Snow Roundup #328
Weekly Global Snow News, updated 20 August 2026: The Northern Hemisphere has no outdoor lift-served skiing, while Argentina’s Marte chair opens and Southern Hemisphere resorts continue posting strong conditions.
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Rainbow at 1540 m altitude
Issued by Snow-Forecast.com at: 11 pm (local time) / 20 Aug 2026
Now
Next 4 days weather summary:Mild with heavy rain (total 24.0mm), heaviest during Sat night. Becoming colder with a moderate fall of snow heaviest on Sat night. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 4°C on Fri morning, min -4°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Thu night, gales from the WNW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 weather summary:A light covering of new snow, mostly falling on Sun night. Becoming milder with light rain (total 6.0mm) on Wed afternoon. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 2°C on Tue morning, min -4°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sun night, light winds from the NW by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||
night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
 |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | |  |  | | |  | |
clear | clear | clear | some clouds | cloudy | light snow | mod. snow | light snow | light snow | mod. snow | light snow | some clouds | cloudy | some clouds | light snow | light snow | |
km/h | ||||||||||||||||
Snow map |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||
 cm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
max °C | -1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | -3 | -3 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
min °C | -1 | 1 | 0 | -3 | -2 | 0 | 0 | -3 | -4 | -4 | -3 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
chill °C | -4 | -2 | -4 | -8 | -8 | -5 | -9 | -12 | -14 | -13 | -8 | -6 | -6 | -3 | -3 | -6 |
Humid % | 70 | 52 | 58 | 62 | 89 | 98 | 99 | 97 | 95 | 94 | 93 | 90 | 90 | 71 | 88 | 87 |
Freeze m | 2100 | 2250 | 2500 | 2150 | 1250 | 1650 | 2050 | 1500 | 1050 | 1050 | 1100 | 1450 | 1500 | 2050 | 2100 | 1650 |
 | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
Days 7-16 weather summary:
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Avalanche information: New Zealand Avalanche Advisory
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Latest snow reports near Rainbow:
Rainbow Snow Conditions
| Top snow depth: | — |
|---|---|
| Bottom snow depth: | — |
| Fresh snowfall depth: | — |
| Last snowfall: | 18 Aug 2026 |
| Snow Alerts | Create Alert |
Other resorts in New Zealand are reporting: powder (2) / good piste (3)
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Snow History
Week 3 of August has on average:
0.4 | Bluebird Powder days Fresh snow, mostly sunny, light wind. |
|---|---|
1.1 | Powder days Fresh snow, limited sun, any wind. |
0.1 | Bluebird days Average snow, mostly sunny, light wind. |
Rainbow Forecast Snowfall
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Photos of Rainbow
Rainbow! by Snow Forecast Admin
Learner Slopes by Daniel
Top of T lift on Rainbow Ski field by Daniel
Upload new photo Other resorts in New Zealand are reporting: powder (2) / good piste (3)
The above table gives the weather forecast for Rainbow at the specific elevation of 1540 m. Our sophisticated weather models allow us to provide snow forecasts for the top, middle and bottom ski stations of Rainbow. To access the weather forecasts for the other elevations, use the tab navigation above the table. For a wider view of the weather, check out the Weather Map of New Zealand.
Click here to read further information on freezing levels and how we forecast our temperatures.
Visitor Reviews of Rainbow
Overall 3.5 Based on 10 votes and 4 reviews
- Snowsure
- Variety of pistes
- Vote
- Sam Mc Eachern from New Zealand writes:
NZ's best kept secret. If you like to get away from the groomers and are prepared to go on short walks, Rainbow will be very good to you. Requirements to enjoy Rainbow: if you're a snowboarder, have an old board with you, if the rocks are showing you can still get freshies all day. Skiers, to have as much fun as the boarders you will need to be comfy with powder and same advice re your skis, skins would be a big advantage to take you up the big hill - 6:1. Never an unhappy face in Rainbow and the road's good. Chains are essential most of the time even if you have a "Big horn".
Visitor Reviews of Rainbow
Sam Mc Eachern from New Zealand writes:
NZ's best kept secret. If you like to get away from the groomers and are prepared to go on short walks, Rainbow will be very good to you. Requirements to enjoy Rainbow: if you're a snowboarder, have an old board with you, if the rocks are showing you can still get freshies all day. Skiers, to have as much fun as the boarders you will need to be comfy with powder and same advice re your skis, skins would be a big advantage to take you up the big hill - 6:1. Never an unhappy face in Rainbow and the road's good. Chains are essential most of the time even if you have a "Big horn".
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