Snowfall at Mt Hutt Marks Winter's Arrival in the Southern Hemisphere

• Andes Braces for More: Up to 40 cm Snow Expected This Week
• Subzero Nights in Australia: Perisher Freezes at -4°C with Fresh Snow
• Lesotho Bounces Back: Sunshine Returns After Early Winter Snowfalls

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE INTRO

There are increasingly promising signs of the upcoming winter across the Southern Hemisphere, with snowfall reported over the last seven days in Australia, South America, Southern Africa, and New Zealand. The latter saw the biggest accumulations, with Mt Hutt reporting a remarkable 80 cm ahead of last weekend, along with 90 km/h (56 mph) wind gusts at its summit. Prior to that, there had been a covering of snow on the slopes of Afriski in Lesotho, and ski areas in Argentina also reported a few centimeters/inches, turning their runs white as well.

Australia’s Perisher also reported -4°C overnight temperatures and a dusting of snow at its summit over the weekend. The ski season isn’t due to start until next month, although a May opening isn’t unheard of. Indeed, last May, incredible pre-season snowfalls in the Andes and Patagonia led to resorts opening early there. It remains to be seen if the same will happen again in 2025. However, with more centers investing in machines like TechnoAlpin's all-weather SnowFactory snowmaking machine, the start of the season is guaranteed for some. Indeed, Australia’s small Corin Forest area has already opened a snow play area thanks to their new machine.

New Zealand’s Whakapapa ski area on Mt Ruapehu has announced plans to start their season on May 30th, thanks to snowmaking at Happy Valley, with neighboring Turoa opening the next day. However, snow play (meaning sledging and snowman building rather than skiing and boarding) was already practiced in several NZ areas, including Porters, with the fresh snowfall last week.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE FORECAST

It’s looking promising for below-freezing temperatures and some 20–40 cm (8–16”) snowfall accumulations in the Andes over the latter half of this week. Mostly sunny in Australia, but with overnight lows dipping a few degrees below freezing on high slopes. New Zealand looks unsettled again, with rain, sleet, and snow showers in the latter half of this week, with temperatures ranging between -5°C and +5°C on ski slopes. Finally, Lesotho is expected to return to non-stop sunshine, with temperatures dropping to around freezing overnight but still climbing up to 15°C during the daytime.