The onset of this year’s snow season in Australia has been disappointing, prompting renewed concerns regarding the effects of climate change on the country’s ski resorts.
The current conditions underscore the importance of artificial snowmaking in extending the ski season.
However, forecasts predict additional snowfall next week.
At Tasmania’s Ben Lomond resort, ski lifts operated for only 17 days in 2018. By 2023, this figure rose to 60 days, with the previous year recording 104 days.
Ben Mock, the resort’s managing director who took over the business in 2021, attributes this turnaround to the implementation of snow machines. He noted, “The introduction of snowmaking dramatically transformed our business. In our first year, we experienced around 280 percent growth in sales, followed by an additional 150 percent increase the next year.”
Nearly $1 million has been allocated to acquire six snow guns at Ben Lomond. Mr. Mock emphasized that without these machines, the resort’s operations would be unsustainable. “They provide us with a reliable product on the ground,” he stated.
“Snowmaking serves as a safety net not just for our resort but for all ski areas. While we cannot predict when natural snowfall will occur, we can utilize our cold weather conditions to create artificial snow when natural precipitation is lacking.”
As rising temperatures lead to diminishing snow depths, the role of snowmaking has become vital in preserving ski seasons and the survival of resorts globally.
In late June, snow cameras revealed a grim situation across Australia’s ski fields, marking one of the worst beginnings to the snow season on record. Despite the challenges, visitors enjoyed the limited man-made snow at key locations such as Mount Buller in Victoria and Thredbo and Perisher in New South Wales.
A significant snowfall over the first weekend of July rejuvenated the resorts, restoring their wintry charm. Barney Davis, who has worked at Perisher for nearly five decades, remarked on the uplift in morale among staff and visitors alike. “We were struggling initially, but even with the little man-made snow we had, people were still engaging with the slopes. Then the real snow arrived, attracting visitors from far and wide, which is fantastic,” he said.
Mr. Davis noted the unpredictability of winter conditions, stating, “June is rarely the same from year to year, and there have been many occasions when we haven’t seen snow until July.”
While forecasting Australia’s snow season remains challenging, data indicates a consistent reduction in natural snow depth. The latest State of the Climate report reveals declines in snow depth, coverage, and snow days in alpine regions since the late 1950s. Research conducted by the Australian Mountain Research Facility and ANU found that snow cover decreased by 30 percent between 1954 and 2012, and the duration of the ski season has shrunk by nearly 30 percent across many Australian alpine resorts.
Long-term data from Snowy Hydro, which has been tracking snow depth since 1954 in three sites across Kosciuszko National Park, shows that last year, snow depth reached a commendable 220 cm, indicating a strong season. However, 2023 and 2024 have recorded the shortest seasons and lowest snow depths witnessed in over 15 years. After an early June measurement of just 14 cm, depths remained at zero until July 7, when 35 cm was finally recorded, just in time for New South Wales school holidays.
Looking ahead, forecasts suggest potential snowfall in the upcoming weeks. Stuart Browning, chief climate scientist at Risk Frontiers, explained how climate change is affecting snowfall patterns. “While late starts and poor seasons have always occurred, current evidence shows that climate change is causing more warm precipitation incidents,” he noted. “This results in shorter seasons, often beginning later and finishing earlier. A slight increase in temperature can shift precipitation from snow to rain, further impacting snowfall.”
The Bureau of Meteorology has announced an El Niño event for this year, which could lead to lower peak snow depths. However, reduced rainfall and cooler nighttime temperatures may help maintain existing snowfall. The overall decline in snow depth aligns with global warming patterns, as the current average global temperature is about 1.2 to 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, with projections indicating it could exceed 1.5 degrees within the next decade.
This year’s ski season commenced during the warmest June recorded in almost six decades across some alpine areas. Ruby Ollson, an alpine researcher at ANU, stated, “We are witnessing rising temperatures, accelerated snowmelt, and a consequent contraction of ski season lengths.” She also highlighted that warmer temperatures jeopardize the ability to produce artificial snow. “Snowmaking relies on specific temperature and humidity conditions, which are becoming less favorable due to climate change,” she explained.
“The more we can reduce our emissions and stay within safe limits, the better our chances of preserving the snow conditions essential for skiing,” she concluded.
