Thredbo test new all-weather snowmaking 'factory'

Thu, 7 May 2026 05:49:26 GMT

Australian ski resort Thredbo has begun testing a new all-weather snowmaking factory capable of producing snow in temperatures of up to 20oC.

The new Demaclenko SnowPro 201 system has been used in pre-season testing and will allow the resort to create machine-made snow even during warm autumn conditions that would normally make conventional snowmaking impossible.

The investment comes as Australian resorts prepare for what some forecasters believe could be a warmer and drier winter influenced by a developing El Nino weather pattern.

The resort advised that the development is "in response to variable and shortening snow seasons in the Australian Alps and the relatively low elevation of Friday Flat…to provide both an early season and more reliable snow cover."

Unlike traditional snow guns, snow factories work by producing snow independently of outside humidity and marginal temperatures. The new machine can produce 210 cubic metres per day.

The systems are increasingly being adopted by resorts worldwide to guarantee terrain during warm periods. We recently reported on a similar system now installed at Coronet Peak in New Zealand.

Thredbo already operates what has been described as the Southern Hemisphere's largest snowmaking network, covering around 65 hectares of terrain and concentrated on key beginner and high-traffic slopes.

The resort has more than 50 runs and relies heavily on snowmaking to guarantee early-season operations. In recent years, the resort has expanded its arsenal with new TT10 and TR10 fan guns.

Thredbo sits 1365m above sea level and is aiming to open for the 2026 season on 06 June

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Thredbo test new all-weather snowmaking 'factory'