🇦🇺🇳🇿 Southern Hemisphere Weekly Snow Roundup #316
Weekly Snow News for the Southern Hemisphere, updated 28 May 2026: Cold temperatures, snowmaking and light snowfall raise optimism ahead of Australia and New Zealand’s 2026 ski season openings.
- Australia’s ski season launch just days away
- New Zealand opens early snow play terrain
- Cold snap boosts snowmaking across southern slopes
- Patagonia sees improving early-season snowfall chances
- Lesotho snowmaking conditions remain promising
Australia Snow Report
Australia’s 2026 ski season officially begins next weekend. While there has still been little natural snowfall, snowmaking systems are now operating widely across the country’s resorts. A colder, wintry pattern has settled over the Australian Alps this week, with upper-mountain temperatures ranging from -6°C to +5°C (21°F to 41°F) and bases from around -3°C to +10°C (27°F to 50°F).
Australia Snow Forecast
NSW’s Snowy Mountains and Victoria’s Alpine resorts remain in a cold, unsettled pre-season pattern. Temperatures are forecast to stay well below average, with upper slopes between -6°C and -2°C (21°F to 28°F) at dawn and daytime highs around 0°C to +4°C (32°F to 39°F).
New Zealand Snow Report
Two New Zealand ski areas are getting an early start to their 2026 seasons this weekend thanks to all-weather snowmaking systems. At Whakapapa, the Snowland zone in Happy Valley is opening for snow play and tubing. Coronet Peak is also opening early with limited beginner skiing and snow play facilities.
New Zealand Snow Forecast
A colder, more unsettled pattern is expected across New Zealand ski fields over the coming week with cloud, scattered snow showers and overnight frosts.
