Simultaneous Snowfall in Northern and Southern Hemispheres

As the seasons change, we’re seeing snowfall beginning in the northern hemisphere and final falls of winter 2024 in the southern hemisphere. That means we’re currently seeing significant snowfalls on both sides of the world at the same time.

The last 24 hours though has seen snowfall to lower levels and over a wider area than usual for the first half of September in Europe. Snowfall has been reported as far east as Slovenia and as far southwest as the Pyrenees between Spain and France, with snowfall down to relatively low valley floors at around 1,000m altitudes in the Alps.  Up above 3,000m the snowfall has been quite heavy with totals now approaching half a metre (20”) at some centres.

Currently three summer ski areas are open at Saas Fee and Zermatt in Switzerland and Passo Stelvio in Italy. Another Italian centre, Val Senales, is set to open next weekend and two Austrian glaciers, Pitztal and Solden, in a fortnight’s time.

Meanwhile there have been some of the best snowfalls in New Zealand this season over the past few days with resorts posting 20-40cm (8-16”) accumulations over the past few days after a period of wild, windy and sometimes warm and wet weather.  That’s left great conditions for the final weeks of the season there for many. Coronet Peak is pictured.