Mount Hutt, New Zealand, looked good last weekend...
Following fresh snowfall, snow conditions continue to improve across the Southern Hemisphere, with exceptional accumulations at Chilean resorts.
The Snow Headlines - July 30th
- Snowfall in the Andes passes 5 m/16 feet in 8 days.
- New Zealand's ski areas score weekend refresh after decent dump.
- Some, but not a lot, of fresh snowfall in Australia.
- Four glacier areas currently open in the Alps.
The snow is forecast to keep coming for South America.
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World Overview
As July closes, global snow conditions continue to vary by country, with conditions looking better everywhere across the southern hemisphere after additional snowfall this week.
Australia saw 10-15 cm/4-6 inches of fresh snowfall, though ski areas continue to battle warm daytime temperatures running far above seasonal norms and limiting natural snowfall. New Zealand saw bigger accumulations, with up to 40 cm/16 inches reported, and most resorts are now at or close to fully open in terms of skiable terrain.
Over in South America, full winter conditions continue in the Andes. Argentina and Chile have both shifted from a snow-poor early July to deep cover and extensive terrain openings, with many centres now operating close to full capacity. Chile has seen the most extraordinary snowfall with up to 6 m/20 feet reported over the past fortnight, with accumulations surpassing typical seasonal totals at some areas and others still closed by the huge snowfall blocking access roads.
Five areas remain open in the Northern Hemisphere with summer glacier skiing continuing in Switzerland, Italy and Norway, while North America offers only limited indoor and hike-to options.
Southern Hemisphere
Australia
July is ending without the turnaround Australia's ski areas had hoped for. Temperatures stayed unusually warm, around 12 °C above average, limiting gains despite scattered snowfalls and overnight snowmaking.
Resorts have worked hard to keep small sections open, earning widespread praise for maintaining reliable beginner–intermediate terrain. Thredbo and Perisher now have roughly a third of their slopes available, Falls Creek and Hotham sit near 20%, and most other centres remain below 10% open. Most have bases of 40 cm/16 inches or less.
New Zealand
Ski areas in New Zealand had a great weekend with up to 40 cm/16 inches of snowfall on Friday evening giving great conditions and fresh powder on Saturday morning, with many areas reporting the best conditions of the season. Mount Hutt is reporting the deepest cover at nearly 1.5 m/5 feet now.
Since the weekend there has been mostly dry weather to enjoy the fresh snow, with temperatures from –6 °C to +8 °C and widespread terrain openings of 80–100%.
A settled, sunny weekend is forecast bringing freeze–thaw cycles, firm early surfaces and softer afternoon skiing across both islands.
Argentina
Argentina's ski season has shifted dramatically over the past fortnight from the snowless first half of July.
Full winter conditions are now established and the country's ski centres have gone from very limited terrain open to most resorts operating 60–100% of their terrain, with more opening as soon as they can dig out and make safe access roads, lifts and slopes.
Chapelco and Las Leñas are among the areas hit by several metres of snowfall over the past fortnight, with the latter now at a 2.5 m/8 feet base, one of the deepest in the world at present.
Chile
Snowfall in Chile has continued almost every day for a fortnight, though most resorts have seen lighter accumulations since the weekend. Many Chilean resorts now report more snowfall in the past week or so than in an average entire season.
Portillo has seen the most snowfall, passing the 5 m/16 feet mark last Saturday when it hit 5.2 m/17 feet. The resort remained closed (as it has been for a fortnight) due to access roads shutting and Chile declaring a state of emergency because of gales and flooding at lower elevations.
Other Chilean ski areas have also reported heavy snowfall that would seem more spectacular if not for Portillo's incredible total.
The upside for the rest is they have been able to open some terrain. Valle Nevado reports a 3 m/10 feet two-week snowfall total but now has all but one of its runs open and all lifts spinning. A Valle Nevado spokesperson said, 'Guest safety remains the resort's highest priority (but) outstanding conditions are developing for an exceptional season.'
Southern Africa
Africa's only operational outdoor ski area, Afriski in Lesotho, remains in a mostly dry mid-winter pattern, with clear skies and cold nights maintaining firm snow. A brief midweek snowfall helped refresh surfaces. For the week ahead daytime temperatures are expected to range from –3 °C to 10 °C depending on elevation, with regular sunshine and moderate winds.
Northern Hemisphere
Four outdoor glacier centres remain open in Europe as July ends.
Zermatt offers around 13 km/8 miles of terrain, shared with Cervinia, whilst Saas-Fee is running two of its four Allalin glacier drag lifts. Italy's Passo Stelvio also remains operational. Despite another warm spell pushing the daytime freezing level above 4,000 m, overnight temperatures have dipped below zero, bringing occasional light glacier snow.
The fourth option is in Norway where the Galdhøpiggen Sommerskisenter is also still turning lifts, reporting full slope access and mixed weather ranging from sunshine to sleet, with temperatures between –5 and +5 °C.
In North America, Timberline's early July closure means Big Snow in New Jersey now offers the continent's only lift-served skiing, alongside Copper Mountain's hike-to park for two more weeks.