Mammoth Mountain, California, USA, now open to June 7th...
Only a dozen outdoor ski areas are open worldwide, as the southern hemisphere's 2026 season is about to commence. Mammoth Mountain and Timberline in the US have extended their seasons, whilst preparations continue for openings across Australia, New Zealand and the Andes.
The Snow Headlines - May 28th
- Southern hemisphere's 2026 ski season expected to get underway this weekend.
- Three centres still open in North America including newly opened summer ski centre.
- Italy's Passo Stelvio set to open this weekend.
- Australia's 2026 season start one week away.
- Mammoth Mountain extends season into June.
Snow forecast for Europe (still), Australia and South America.
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World Overview
Only around a dozen outdoor ski areas remain open worldwide as May enters its final full week, but the southern hemisphere's 2026 season is about to begin, helped by all-weather snowmaking systems.
Northern Hemisphere operations have dropped back into low double figures, with more than half of the remaining US centres closing after the Memorial Day weekend. At the same time, additional glacier areas have opened for their 2026 summer seasons in the Alps, Scandinavia and North America.
Europe
The Alps
Austria's Kitzsteinhorn glacier was the latest to end its 2025-26 season, last weekend, having operated nearly 8 months, leaving four Alpine glacier areas still operating. That number should rise to five with Italy's summer-only Passo Stelvio due to begin its six-month 2026 season this weekend. Stelvio has reported fresh May snowfall, though webcams show a relatively thin early-season base.
Currently open are Austria's Hintertux and Mölltal glaciers, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise between Zermatt and Cervinia, and France's Les 2 Alpes, which holds Europe's deepest cover. Hintertux and Zermatt/Cervinia each offer more than 32 km of terrain.
The past week has been mostly sunny and dry, with freezing levels above 3,000 m/9,843 feet at night and near 4,000 m/13,123 feet by afternoon, while valley temperatures have approached +30 °C/86 °F. A mild, stable late-spring pattern continues with only isolated high-alpine showers.
Scandinavia
Norway's Stryn glacier opened last weekend, becoming the region's third option, though it warns its season may again be short. It joins Galdhøpiggen and Sweden's Riksgränsen, where thin cover has reduced terrain to about a third and weekend-only operations are planned through late June.
The past few days have stayed cold and unsettled, with cloud, snow showers and brief brighter spells. Galdhøpiggen remains the coldest, Stryn slightly milder, and Riksgränsen seeing mixed rain-snow and 3–7 °C/37–45 °F daytime highs.
North America
North America is down to three operating ski areas, all now in the Western US. One of them, California's Mammoth Mountain, had announced it would close its season this coming Sunday 31st but has now extended a further week into June after reporting 1.5 m/59 inches of snowfall in May.
Oregon's Timberline is staying open into July and has been joined by Wyoming's Beartooth Basin this week, a summer-ski option.
Recent high-alpine temperatures have started in the mid-20s to mid-40s °F and risen into the 40s–60s °F at Mammoth. Timberline has been cooler, with light snow showers above 7,000 ft/2,134 m as Pacific moisture returned. Beartooth Basin has stayed dry but chilly, with summit temperatures in the 30s–40s °F/−1 to 4 °C, offering firm early-morning snow before softening.
The coming week remains warm and mostly dry across the Western US, with mild afternoons and rapid daytime softening.
Southern Hemisphere
Australia
Australia's 2026 ski season begins next week, with natural snowfall still limited but snowmaking now active. A cold, wintry pattern has settled over the Snowy Mountains and Victorian Alps, with upper-mountain temperatures from –6 to +5 °C/21 to 41 °F and repeated sub-zero nights.
Mount Buller, Thredbo and Corin Forest are set for June 6 openings using all-weather systems, while others rely on conventional snowmaking. Light snow showers are possible across major resorts as weak fronts keep conditions cold, firm and unsettled.
New Zealand
Two New Zealand ski areas will make an early start to their 2026 seasons this weekend using all-weather snowmaking. At Whakapapa, the Snowland zone in Happy Valley opens for snow play and tubing, while Coronet Peak offers limited beginner skiing via a conveyor lift alongside snow play. The main season begins on 12 June with Mount Hutt, followed by Cardrona, Coronet Peak's full launch and The Remarkables on the 13th.
Upper-mountain temperatures this week have ranged from –7 to +6 °C/19 to 43 °F, with the South Island's high terrain seeing repeated sub-zero nights and light, patchy snowfall. A colder, more unsettled pattern is forecast, bringing frequent cloud, scattered snow showers, sharp frosts and daytime highs only 0 to +4 °C/32 to 39 °F in clearer spells.
Argentina
Argentina's ski season usually begins in mid to late June, and conditions are trending colder across the Andes. Upper-mountain temperatures have ranged from –7 to +3 °C/19 to 37 °F, with the coldest readings at high-Andean resorts such as Las Leñas, Vallecitos, Los Penitentes and Cerro Castor, where repeated sub-zero nights and light, intermittent snowfall have already occurred.
Early-season systems are expected to bring a more wintry pattern, with –8 to –3 °C/18 to 27 °F at dawn, highs near –1 to +3 °C/30 to 37 °F, and the best snowfall chances in Patagonia.
Chile
Chile's ski areas are experiencing typical late-autumn conditions, with summit temperatures from –6 to +6 °C/21 to 43 °F.
Central-Andes resorts near Santiago including Valle Nevado, La Parva, El Colorado and Portillo are expected to start opening in a fortnight and have stayed mostly dry and cool, with repeated sub-zero nights up high allowing snowmaking systems to fire up.
Further south, Nevados de Chillán, Corralco and Villarrica have seen colder spells and patchy high-terrain snowfall. A more active pre-season pattern is expected, bringing cloud, occasional snowfall and highs of –1 to +3 °C/30 to 37 °F.
Africa
Lesotho
Lesotho's Afriski is often one of the first to open in the southern hemisphere, typically in the second week of June but sometimes earlier. It has enjoyed several strong snowmaking nights, helping preparations for a season expected to begin within the next week or two. Summit temperatures have swung from –13 °C/9 °F to +6 °C/43 °F, with repeated sub-zero nights reaching the base area. Conditions have stayed dry and clear, with no natural snowfall. A cold, wintry pattern continues, with nights of –8 to –4 °C/18 to 25 °F and daytime highs of –1 to +3 °C/30 to 37 °F. Weak systems may bring intermittent cloud, light showers and a small chance of snow late Friday into Saturday but it relies on snowmaking to create its 1 km/0.5 miles of ski slopes.