Huge spring snowfalls are building in New Zealand with one resort reporting 70cm of fresh snow accumulated as staff left for the day, but with the snow still falling at a rate of up to 10cm per hour.
It's springtime and the final 2-3 weeks of the season lie ahead for most of the country's ski areas but this looks to be the biggest snowfall of 2018 by some way for ski areas on the South Island.
The snow started falling on Sunday and most of the country's ski centres were closed today as the volumes of snow made safe operations impossible but several say they are hoping to open tomorrow with deep powder.
Among the running totals reported unofficially on social media by the ski areas was, 30cm at The Remarkables 13 hours ago, 35cm at Cardrona 12 hours ago (pictured top today), 60cm at Coronet Peak 5 hours ago and 70cm at Treble Cone 5 hours ago. The latter reported snow was continuing to fall at 5-10cm per hour as staff headed back down the mountain.
Most of New Zealand's ski areas will be open to October 7th or 14th this year although Whakapapa and Turoa on Mt Ruapehu on the north Island may stay open later in the month or in to November. Both have the deepest bases in the southern hemisphere at present at 3m+
For latest New Zealand snow reports and forecasts visit: https://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast/New_Zealand/