Could we really see another dump next week?

By Pete ‘The Frog’ Taylor  – snowatch.com.au

There is only a week left until the ‘official’ opening of Season 2017. Lifts are already spinning at Mt Baw Baw thanks to the resort fairing the best out of the recent snowfalls. Both Perisher and Mt Buller will open this weekend and although there have been whispers  that Merritts at Thredbo would open, there has been nothing official on that as yet.

Once the snow cleared earlier this week we saw the overnight temps drop to very low levels thanks to a large high pressure system sitting over the country. Nights have been perfect for the snow makers and they got into full swing pumping it out from before sunset to well after sunrise. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see record snowmaking numbers posted once this high moves away. For the first day of Winter things are looking really good compared to previous seasons.

So the big question now is: What’s install in the mountains once the high moves away?

There is a low pressure system currently sitting to the south west of WA that is looking like it could bring the goods just in time for the official opening if the high pressure system above and behind behaves and doesn’t move south. Clouds look like they might move in on Tuesday 6th and we should see snow starting to fall during the morning in the resorts. If this happens then we should be in position for snow to continue across the 7th and 8th. All up it’s looking like it could be anything from 15-30cm across the 3 days, we just have to see how the next couple of days pan out before we can be sure about this on.

Once this system moves away off the coast we are left with a few partly cloudy days that should last across the ‘official’ opening weekend.  The winds should be moderate at times about the peaks but mostly light which will be more than comfortable for anyone lucky enough to be on the slopes.

Keep an eye on Snowatch for updates on this system, hopefully we will see it upgraded over the coming days but there is also a chance of a downgrade with the current models uncertain of the outcome.

‘The Frog’

1-7 day snow forecast Australia

8-14 day snow forecast Australia

Long Range snow forecast Australia