Australia Enjoys Year’s Biggest Snow Day So Far

Australia’s 2024 season has taken a reset this weekend with by far the biggest snow day of the year to date.

Resorts reported up to 60cm (2 feet) of snowfall so far and coming on top of a smaller 20-30cm fall at the start of last week, it takes 7-day totals to nearly the metre mark.

With the country’s ski areas struggling to open even half of their terrain for the first half of the season due to very little snowfall up to now, it’s a real game-changer for the remainder of the 2024 season, with this week seeing almost as much snowfall as the rest of winter two date combined.

It's looking like a white Christmas in July on the slopes of Falls Creek and Hotham in the Victorian Alps this week. After the largest snow dump of the season so far (53cm natural snowfall at Falls Creek and 47cm natural snowfall at Hotham this weekend), the skies cleared and there was plenty of amazing bluebird skiing and snowboarding under today's full moon.

"We've had 80cm of fresh snow this past week and we are so excited to open more terrain thanks to the Summit Chairlift running for the first time this season," said Betony Pitcher, Falls Creek's Marketing Manager. "This opens up even more options for our guests with advanced skills and our black runs are groomed and ready!"

"It was a magical morning reveal following the snowstorm this week that delivered 78cm of natural snowfall," said Alex Pankiw, Hotham Marketing Coordinator. "Sundays are made for sleeping in back in the city, but on the mountain everyone was up bright and early to make the most of these amazing conditions."

“The monster snowstorm bearing down on us since Friday has delivered over half a metre of snow! That means we've opened three new lifts today: Howqua, Bonza, Tirol T-Bar (high load),” a spokesperson for Mt Buller, which previously only had 5% of their terrain open said, adding, “And that's not all. Get ready for Shakey Knees chair to open tomorrow, Lydia's and Southside from Tuesday, plus another of our fave lifts and more terrain throughout the week.”

In Tasmania, up to 30cm (12”) of snow has fallen at Tassie’s Ben Lomond ski resort overnight, officially making it their biggest snow day of the year. The fresh powder arrived just in time for the final weekend of the school holidays, allowing the resort to open more terrain for skiers and snowboarders.

“Snowmen have been built and snowball fights have been had on the peak today,” a resort spokesperson said.

Perisher and Thredbo are the first Aussie areas to pass 50% open this season, Thredbo reaching 70% thanks to the snowstorm, Perisher reached 90% with the most terrain open in the country and 44 of its 46 lifts operating.  Much more terrain is expected to open now across the country over the coming week.