Southern Hemisphere Weekly Roundup #286
Heavy snow hit New Zealand’s Southern Alps, dropping over a metre at higher elevations. Most ski fields were closed, but backcountry skiers enjoyed brief, perfect conditions.
The Southern Alps kicked off this week with one of the heaviest snowfalls of the year, blanketing ski areas across Canterbury and Otago in fresh snow down to 400 m. Higher elevations saw more than a metre of accumulation, transforming the landscape into midwinter conditions.
Unfortunately, most ski lifts had already closed for the season — many for over a month — after a year that started and ended well but struggled through a lean middle. Even Mt Hutt, which enjoyed one of the better seasons, wrapped up operations two weeks ago.
That didn’t stop determined skiers and riders from hiking into the hills to enjoy perfect post-storm conditions. Clear skies and frosty mornings followed the storm, creating excellent turns across the Motu. With an anticyclone now building and temperatures returning to spring norms, expect the snowpack to shift toward classic spring corn. Anyone heading up should come prepared — the UV levels will be intense.
