Global Weekly Snow Roundup #321
Weekly Snow News for the World, updated 2 July 2026: Fresh snowfall on both sides of the planet including up high in Europe's Alps and the northern American Rockies, as well as on snowfields across the southern hemispohere.
You know it's an unusual start to July when several ski areas in the northern hemisphere, where it's the height of summer, are still posting more terrain open than those across the southern hemisphere, where it's midwinter.
In the northern hemisphere, things are pretty normal; there are around 10 areas open still across Europe and North America. In the south, however, the dismal start continues, and unusually all three major ski regions – Australia, New Zealand and the South American Andes are suffering together. Only Southern Africa's Lesotho is having a fairly normal start to winter.
Most regions are still waiting for sustained winter weather. Australia’s season remains on hold, with only short, snowmade strips open at a handful of resorts, all heavily used by crowds. A sharp cold front from this weekend should finally deliver 10–20 cm of natural snow to major resorts, though rain may fall at lower elevations.
In New Zealand, limited terrain has opened at Cardrona, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt and Coronet Peak thanks to snowmaking and last week’s snowfall. A stronger wintry outbreak late week could bring more snowfall, particularly to South Island fields.
Argentina continues to struggle, with most centres still closed and only thin cover. Sunshine dominates the north, while the far south (including Ushuaia) may see light natural snow. Chile is cold but mostly dry, with limited terrain open at a few resorts, in a similar scenario to New Zealand.
In Southern Africa, Afriski remains open with its full mile‑long run thanks to snowmaking, despite warm daytime temperatures. A colder pulse on Thursday may bring a dusting of light snow before skies clear again.
In the northern hemisphere, across the European Alps, summer glacier skiing continues at Tignes, Hintertux, Zermatt and Passo Stelvio, though warm temperatures and strong sunshine dominate. There was a little fresh snowfall in the past 24 hours but now no fresh snowfall is expected in the near future. Norway’s Galdhøpiggen remains fully open with variable but mostly dry conditions.
In North America, Timberline (Oregon) and Copper Mountain’s hike‑to park (Colorado) remain the main options, with Canada's Sunshine set to end its fortnight of summer skiing and riding this Sunday.
