J2Ski Snow Report - August 13th 2026

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 20:22:43 GMT

Tree skiing Australia-style, at Falls Creek this week.

Australia's Perisher currently leads global ski resorts in open terrain amid excellent Southern Hemisphere conditions, while extreme summer heat has forced nearly all Northern Hemisphere Alpine ski areas to close.

The Snow Headlines - August 13th
- Australia's Perisher now has most terrain currently open worldwide.
- After another good week, almost all New Zealand ski areas fully open.
- Road in and out of Portillo, posting world's deepest snow, now closed for a full month.
- Saas-Fee joins Zermatt in suspending summer skiing operation.
- Passo Stelvio the only lift-served outdoor ski area still operating in northern hemisphere.
- Africa's only remaining lift-served outdoor ski area reaches final week of 2026 season.

Snow forecast for New Zealand and South America.

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World Overview

Global ski conditions diverge sharply between hemispheres as the south is in midwinter whilst the north swelters in very high summer, with many weeks of hot weather recorded.

In the southern hemisphere, most regions are enjoying their strongest stretch of the 2026 season, with all five ski nations reporting fresh snowfall over the past week. Accumulations have generally been light to moderate, but South America continues to hold the deepest snowpack worldwide after nearly a month of sustained snowfall. Some areas, however, would prefer clearer weather following repeated access disruptions caused by snow.

Australia has seen several 10-20 cm/4-8 inches snowfalls that have pushed terrain openings to their highest levels of winter, while New Zealand has recorded new snow and maintains broadly favourable mid-season conditions.

In contrast, northern hemisphere summer heat has severely impacted glacier operations. Weeks of freezing levels above 4,000 m/13,123 feet have left large expanses of bare ice exposed, with surviving snow only at locations lying under protective covers. Multiple Alpine centres have suspended summer skiing, leaving only one lift-served outdoor option still operating.

Southern Hemisphere

Australia

Australia's season continues to strengthen at its midpoint, helped by fresh snow, colder nights and expanding terrain. Most resorts reported another 10-20 cm/4-8 inches of snowfall over the past week, offsetting brief lower-elevation rain and giving slopes a solid mid-winter refresh.

Falls Creek is now around 70% open, while Perisher has surged to nearly 80% after sustained cold and regular top-ups, supported by an upper-mountain base nearing one metre/3 feet. This makes it the world leader for currently open lift-served terrain, surpassing several fully open South American centres that cover smaller acreage.

A settled spell of sunshine is forecast, with crisp days, cold nights and firm snow. Light winds and no new snowfall will support stable grooming and reliable surface quality through the weekend.

New Zealand

New Zealand's 2026 season is at its strongest point to date, with most major resorts fully open or close to full operations. Solid mid-season bases, consistently cold nights and periodic snow showers have kept surfaces in good shape this past week with several powder mornings.

The deepest base in the country remains at Mount Hutt, which is fully open and holds one of the deepest covers outside South America.

Cardrona is also near full operations with reliable overnight refreezing, while Coronet Peak continues to run at 100% despite thinner cover, offering hard-packed early conditions and softer afternoon skiing. Smaller club fields vary, but most now have healthy upper-mountain snow and are well into their seasons.

Clear skies, light winds and freezing nights dominate across both islands, maintaining stable conditions. Forecasting models predict light snow over the coming days, refreshing upper slopes before a return to mostly sunny, settled weather. Daytime temperatures stay cold, nights drop sharply below -10 oC, and winds remain light, supporting firm, dry snow.

Argentina

Argentina's ski regions have shifted to a mainly dry, sunny pattern after several weeks of snowfall, with persistent cold preserving firm mid-winter cover. Daytime temperatures range from -5 oC to +3 oC, dropping to -10 oC or lower overnight, producing excellent surface quality.

Catedral near Bariloche is reporting high avalanche danger after seeing heavier snowfalls than most this week.

Most areas now have at least half their terrain open, led by the country's largest centre and by the deep upper-mountain snow in the central Andes. The far south remains slightly colder, though drier, with sharper freezes.

Light snowfalls are expected across several resorts in the coming days, followed by clearer skies, cold nights and stable conditions heading into the weekend.

Chile

Chile's ski areas currently have the world's best mid-season coverage, with most major resorts fully open or close to full operations.

The country's deepest snowpack remains in the central Andes, with Portillo posting a nearly 3 m/10 feet upper base depth (the largest in the world at present), though access is restricted with the road in and out now closed for a full month. Only those using helicopters can enter and exit.

Other resorts in the region like Valle Nevado and El Colorado offer extensive terrain and firm upper-mountain conditions, whilst southern areas have been boosted by recent snowfall and now report reliable cover across both lower and upper slopes.

Light to moderate snowfalls are expected over the next few days, refreshing upper terrain before a gradual shift to brighter, settled weather.

Southern Africa

Lesotho

Afriski, the only lift-served outdoor ski area still operating anywhere in Africa, enters its final week of the season with around two-thirds of terrain open and both lifts operating. Light snowfall was reported earlier in the week, though totals appear minimal. Very cold nights, dropping below -10 oC are keeping surfaces firm each morning. The closing period brings the usual run of clear skies and full sunshine, with daytime temperatures just above freezing and sharp overnight refreezing.

Northern Hemisphere

The Alps

Saas-Fee has become the latest Alpine glacier to halt summer skiing, citing persistently high temperatures and deteriorating snow and ice conditions. Its closure leaves Italy's Passo Stelvio as the only remaining lift-served outdoor option in the northern hemisphere, with limited terrain still operating on higher slopes. With rain to high elevations and warm temperatures, it is unclear if Stelvio will continue operating.

Zermatt shut at the end of July for the same reasons, though some training lanes reportedly remain available for national race teams.

North America

North America continues to have no open lift-served summer skiing, though Copper in Colorado's hike-to summer park is still operating.

Most skiers across Europe and North America are now on indoor snow.

Above 3,000 m/9,843 feet in the Alps, late-summer warmth and unsettled spells continue to dominate. Scandinavia trends cooler and more stable, with bright days and cold nights, though it does not look like the Galdhopiggen glacier will reopen until next month.

In the US Rockies, high pressure brings sunny afternoons and cold nights at elevation.

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