Australian ski resorts are concluding their operations prematurely in 2026, following an unprecedentedly warm winter. The season not only experienced higher temperatures but also significant rainfall in the mountainous regions, which completely hindered the establishment of a seasonal snowpack in the lower alpine areas.
This year marks the third relatively snowless winter out of the last four, highlighting a continuing trend of reduced snowfall in the Australian Alps—a stark indication of the impacts of climate change.
The ski season faced difficulties right from the beginning. June recorded unusually warm and wet conditions, and when there wasn’t rain, the temperatures were too high for effective snowmaking at the ski resorts. Notably, the Perisher Valley weather station reported 301 millimeters of precipitation from June 1 to July 2, with only 25 millimeters falling when temperatures were below freezing.
A small amount of snow did arrive in July; however, the overall conditions remained mild and wet. While some snow accumulation occurred on higher slopes, a consistent snow cover across the lower alpine areas was never achieved. Last month continued this trend, with additional rainfall and temperatures above the average. Towards the end of August, the alpine regions recorded maximum temperatures exceeding 10 degrees Celsius, including a record 14.4 degrees Celsius at Perisher on August 29.
As a result of three warmer-than-normal months, the average winter temperatures in the high country reached unprecedented levels. The Cabramurra weather station, the longest-running in the Australian alpine region, recorded a mean temperature of 4.0 degrees Celsius this winter, which is significantly higher than the long-term average of 1.8 degrees Celsius and nearly half a degree above the previous record set in 2023. Similarly, the Mount Buller station, operational since 1985, also exceeded the prior record by nearly half a degree, with a mean of 1.9 degrees Celsius compared to a long-term average of 0.1 degrees Celsius.
In a typical winter, snow accumulation peaks in August or early September. However, this year, unless an unlikely polar storm occurs this spring, the snow levels peaked two weeks earlier than usual and were at historically low levels, severely limiting skiable terrain. An analysis of snow depth reveals that for higher elevations, this winter was the worst for natural snow since 2006, and for lower regions, it was the lowest on record.
Despite these challenges, Josh Elliott, CEO of Snow Resorts Australia, expressed optimism about the industry’s capacity to handle adverse seasons. He stated, “While conditions and available terrain have varied among resorts, ongoing investment in snowmaking and management has ensured that skiing and snowboarding have been available in New South Wales, Victoria, and the ACT since the June long weekend.”
Nevertheless, even with extensive snow management efforts, two lower resorts, Mount Selwyn and Mount Baw Baw, ceased operations two weeks ago. Mount Hotham is also set to end its season early this Sunday, and with more heavy rain forecasted for the weekend, it seems unlikely that the remaining major resorts will remain open until the traditional closing weekend in early October.
While a winter with minimal snow is not unprecedented in Australia—similar lean years occurred in 1973 and 1982—the alarming trend of declining snowfall over the decades raises concerns. The lower alpine areas are particularly susceptible to climate change, with more winter precipitation now falling as rain and above-freezing temperatures causing snow cover to melt between storms.
From 1955 to 2000, the average peak annual snow depth at Three-Mile Dam, situated at 1,460 meters, was 55 centimeters. However, in the past 25 years, this average has dropped to 34 centimeters, reflecting a 38 percent decline. At Mount Buller, the decrease has been 21 percent, from 117 centimeters to 93 centimeters, while at Spencers Creek, located at 1,830 meters, the decline is 13 percent, from 205 centimeters to 178 centimeters.
This data clearly indicates that the winter snowline is rising. Projections suggest that by 2050, maximum snow depth at major resorts could decrease by more than 50 percent compared to late 20th-century levels, even under a low emissions scenario. However, Elliott noted that Australian resorts are preparing for future climate challenges, stating, “While these projections are useful for understanding changes in the natural alpine environment, they do not predict future skiable terrain, resort operation periods, or visitor experiences.”
“Snowmaking has been an integral part of the Australian snow experience for over 35 years. Advanced technologies, such as All-Weather Snowmaking Systems, enable resorts equipped with these systems to produce snow even at ambient temperatures up to 20 degrees Celsius.”
It is important to note that while the statistics from Victoria are robust, as daily natural snow depth readings are recorded by resorts, Mount Hotham did not report during the COVID-19 winters of 2020 and 2021. In New South Wales, Perisher and Thredbo refer to snow depth data collected by Snowy Hydro at Spencers Creek, typically measured weekly or bi-weekly. Snowy Hydro also collects data at Deep Creek and Three-Mile Dam, although these datasets may have inconsistencies due to varying measurement intervals.
