Snowfall Update - Recorded 9 August 2025
After a quieter month for snowfall – particularly in the South Island – winter has returned with a welcome boost. In the past 24 hours, most ski fields have picked up at least 10cm of fresh snow, refreshing slopes across the country.
In the South Island, Coronet Peak (15cm), The Remarkables (33cm), Cardrona (45cm), and Mt Hutt (119cm) all reported solid top-ups, adding to already strong bases and setting up a mix of soft turns and crisp corduroy for August.
For the North Island, the snowfall is even more significant. Whakapapa (25cm) and Tūroa (40cm) have been short on coverage, and the latest dump is helping open more terrain.
With colder weather patterns settling in, there’s optimism for more snow in the days ahead. Ski fields are urging visitors to check official reports for the latest conditions as grooming teams prep fresh runs for the weekend.
We’re a few weeks into the 2025 ski season, and it’s already shaping up to be a good one – especially if you’re down south. The South Island has come out firing, while the North Island is still waiting on those colder temperatures to settle in.
The South Island is off to a cracking start
Things kicked off nicely in late May with a decent snowfall, followed by another solid fall in June. And just this week, most of the major fields picked up another 10 to 15cm of fresh snow.
Coronet Peak opened with its best early-season coverage since 2022, while Mt Hutt has been getting its fair share of the snow – it’s now sitting on a base between one and 1.4 metres, which is great for this time of year. Right now, you’d have to say Mt Hutt is the place to ski.
Club fields like Porters, Roundhill, Ōhau, and Mt Dobson have all been getting in on the action too, posting snow totals and opening lifts. There’s a real excitement across the South Island at the moment – and with good reason.
The North Island is still waiting for the winter storms
It’s been a slower start on Mt Ruapehu. Tūroa and Whakapapa are open, with most of the snow is man-made for now. Warm winds and rain from a run of tropical weather systems have kept natural snowfall at bay.
But it’s not unusual. The North Island typically gets its best snow from July onwards, and spring skiing up there is often some of the best in the country. So don’t write it off just yet – things can change quickly once the weather turns.
More Cold temperatures on the way?
Looking ahead, there’s some good news in the short forecast. Colder air is expected to move in next week, with temperatures dropping across the country – especially down south. That’s great news for snowmaking and could give conditions another boost during the school holidays.
Longer term weather – well the jury is still out, Earth Science New Zealand has this to say…
All up, it’s a better start than many expected
Particularly after some early-season predictions of a slow winter. For now, the South Island is looking the goods, and the North will hopefully catch up soon.
As always, any day on the mountain is a good one, just keep an eye on the reports and make the most of it while it’s this good.