A GENEROUS dump of snow will greet hundreds of skiers this weekend and some resorts are nearing their booking capacity.More than 40cm of white flakes have carpeted the alpine resorts, prompting Perisher and Thredbo to open new terrain for the weekend.As the snow continues to fall, Thredbo has the Crackenback Supertrail open from Eagles Nest and Antons will open within days.Perisher will open Guthega tomorrow while Mt Perisher and Sun Valley are boot-deep in fresh snow, with around 70cm of snow fall in the past few days.The natural snow depth at Spencers Creek yesterday was 71.8cm, and more snowfalls are forecast to 1000m today. mostly clearing for the weekend but Falls Creek and Hotham did extremely well from the dump, as did little Selwyn Snowfields.Snowfall of up to 28cm blanketed Victoria’s alpine regions, creating perfect skiing and tobogganing conditions.Forecasts for freezing temperatures this weekend, from -1C to -6C, and southwesterly winds will ensure the snowfalls continue.
Yesterday snow fall reached 28cm at Falls Creek, 24cm at Mt Hotham and 10cm at Mt Buller.At Mt Buffalo snow coverage is lower at just 3cm-4cm and suitable for snow play only, but bigger dumps are expected soon.Mt Hotham resort spokeswoman Jessica Rose said the resort was booked to 80 per cent capacity, defying gloomy predictions.”We expected a bit of a drop, but it’s been quite the opposite,” she said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand is also set to catch this weekend’s snow dump.“Snow has now hit New Zealand as predicted and is falling to as low as 750 metres at the base of Mt Cook,” Mountainwatch.com Forecaster, David Winterburn, said.“The next four days are going to be hum-dingers in the South. The low that’s been battering Aussie is about to arrive and by the looks of it, it means business! As with the North Island this low will arrive by midday Thursday and we’ll be fully in its grip by the evening.”
Winds will start Northerly but will turn North East by Friday. As the low passes over the South Island the North East flow will be replaced by a much colder South/South West flow. Expect significant snow with the system over the entire South Island. It’ll also be down to low levels (700m) so make sure you have your chains.
