Australian Ski Areas Climb Towards 2 Metre Base Depths
Australian Ski Areas Climb Towards 2 Metre Base Depths
Published : 16-Aug-2018 07:27
Despite not generally having the reputation for deep powder that the other three major southern hemisphere ski destination nations have, Australia appears to be enjoying a better 2018 ski season for snowfall than those other countries.
Ski areas in Argentina, Chile and New Zealand started off in June and early July posting good season-start snowfall stats, but bases have not grown much at any of them over the past six weeks whilst ski areas in Australia have seen a snowy August, taking the base depth at several of the country's leading ski areas including Perisher, Thredbo and Charlotte Pass to the 1.8 metre (six foot) mark.
Forecasts are currently for up to 35cm more fresh snow by the weekend, potentially taking some areas past the 2m base mark. Virtually all of the country's ski lifts are running and all trails open – more than 100 at Perisher.
By contrast ski areas in Chile are reporting only 50-100cm bases and Argentina 60 - 170cm (but all but one area reporting less than 1m) with very little fresh snowfall since June.
New Zealand ski areas are having a fairly good season with several areas reporting bases at over 2 metres – the deepest in the southern hemisphere at present – and most over a metre. The deepest base in the country has fallen however since the start of August from 2.3m to 2.2m with Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu now posting the deepest base south of the equator.
The southern hemisphere ski season normally runs to late September or early October so there's 5-8 weeks left for 2018 at most areas.
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