"Most Snow in 17 Years" in Australia

The latest round of huge snow storms in Australia have left snow conditions, “the best in 17 years” according to Perisher ski resort.

The September snow storm currently raging is the third since the start of August and the biggest yet with most of the country’s major resorts posting at least 60cm (2 feet) of snowfall in the past 72 hours and Thredbo a remarkable 1.3m (4.3 feet) in the same period.

Snow depths at leading Australian resorts are now approaching two metres – about as good as it gets here, and nearly all of the ski lifts in the country are operating at capacity – although some have needed digging out – with almost every run open.

Interestingly the heavy summer snow has fallen just as meteorologists are saying Winter 2017 was the warmest on record in Australia.  So it seems warmer temperatures can aid precipitation sometimes.

The Australian ski season is now in to ‘spring’ and most areas are scheduled to close in just a few weeks’ time for the season, however some, including Perisher, have announced extended seasons due to all the snowfall – to October 8^th in Perisher’s case.

The current snowfall is forecast to continue right through to the weekend.