His early mornings are spent looking at weather charts and data before publishing his daily weather forecasts for the Australian snow resorts. But away from that you can find Pete ‘The Frog‘ Taylor using his artistic talents to paint original modern geometric abstracts on canvas from his home studio.

Many years before forecasting snow, Pete attended The National Art School in East Sydney and later moved into Graphic Design which meant he put away the paint brushes and sat in front of a computer screen with the mouse being the creative tool.

Things have now reversed with the graphic design put to the side and the paint brushes dusted off once again. Pete is currently working on a mountain theme series and you can see some of these in the photo gallery below. Commissions are available if you’d like a custom design for your house, apartment or ski lodge.

Check out: Peter Taylor Creative Art for the full range available for sale. There are also paintings exclusively available at the Two Doors Up Gallery in Jindabyne. If you are interested in having a custom commission piece done then email Pete.

Peter Taylor Creative Art

The post From snow forecaster to artist, see the other side of Pete ‘The Frog’ Taylor appeared first on Snowatch.

By Pete ‘The Frog’ Taylor
Snow Forecaster & Owner
snowatch.com.au

Snowatch® Early Season Outlook 2025

It is that time again when we look towards the new snow season after two of the worst seasons on record. Season 2024 will go down as once of the worse ones. Season 2023’s snow depth was only 7cm more, so it’s been two years of very ordinary snow. These depths are not the worst recorded, with 2006 only reaching 85cm, 1982-91cm and 1993 only got to 112cm. This shows that we have had bad seasons before and come back. For those that think it’s all over and we will never see deep snow again, remember that 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 all reached well over 2m in snow depth at Spencer’s Creek and 2021 was just below 2m.

How is early 2025 looking?

To come.

What usually happens this time of year?

Usually during May and June we see a lot of large dominating blocking high pressure systems revolving around the southern hemisphere bringing extended periods of dry weather with most potential snow bearing cold fronts being forced south under the mainland. Any snowfalls we see before June usually melts quite quickly, although it can help freeze the ground which helps the snow makers to create a base layer of snow.

So, when will it snow?

Looking at the current charts the next week looks quite mild and warm with temps dropping on the 4^th. There is a chance of light snow falling around the 5^th to 6^th of May. It won’t last long on the ground but will more than likely increase the anxiety levels for the coming season.

Looking a bit further ahead I see temps milder than usual and quite a lot of moisture around which won’t be good for potential snow making leading into the season opening on June 11.

If I had to throw out some dates for potential for snow, I’d say around the 12^th-13^th of May and then a follow up system around the 21st-23rd of May.

In summary

In Summary I see a slow start to the season with limited snow making opportunities and unfortunately not a lot of natural snow. I think this pattern will remain until La Nina weakens more which probably won’t happen until July sometime. As this happens the likelihood of good consistent snowfalls will, and I think the back end of the season from mid-July to September will be quite decent.

All it takes for the season to get into full swing is a couple of decent falls so there is nothing to say an early dump can’t change things before July.

The daily Snowatch® forecasts begin on Monday 2nd May and as per usual you will see a 15 day forecast for each resort as well as a long range outlook for the next month pin pointing any future snowfalls to help in planning your next snow trips.

About Snowatch®

Snowatch.com.au is Australia’s longest running dedicated snow forecasting website. Owned and operated by Pete ‘The Frog’ Taylor it is well known for pinpointing snow bearing systems up to four weeks out. Unlike other weather sites Snowatch® does not rely on automated algorithms to pump out snowfall predictions. Pete ‘The Frog’ is up early 7 days a week from May 1^st through to closing weekend in October studying the charts and data before manually inputting forecasts for each resort for the next 15 days as well as adding his thoughts on the long rang outlook. Pete ‘The Frog’ also helps out fellow Snowatcher’s answering emails and facebook messages in regards to queries on coming snowfalls. There is also a 7 day forecast for the New Zealand snowfields around Queenstown and Wanaka for the Aussies who like to keep an eye out over the ditch.

The post After two of the worst snow seasons on record, how are we looking for Season 2025? appeared first on Snowatch.

The post August 8-12th snowfall gallery appeared first on Snowatch.

Delicious gastronomy, all-inclusive activities and world-renowned locations drive record occupancy rates for Club Med’s memorable snow holidays

Aussies are seeking holistic snow holidays with unique experiences and cultural immersion alongside thrilling snow sports, according to sales insights released by Club Med, in-line with the all-inclusive provider’s ski season opening.

An increased number of Australians are signing up for the emotions that you can only experience on a snow holiday, such as the liveliness that comes with fresh mountain air on your face, the freedom of smooth ski runs, the wonder during après ski adventures, and the content from feasting on delicious, well-earned, mountain fare.

Almost all rooms in Club Med’s newest Japanese resort, Tomamu Hokkaido, have been booked through to March 2019, with a huge 37% of those Aussies who skied Japan with Club Med last year returning for 2018. And with Club Med’s European resorts more than 75% full at the start of ski season, the brand has had to create a pre-registration process to keep up with the demand of Australian travellers.

“Our guests continue to book Club Med resorts for their snow holidays because of the exclusive snow community we’ve cultivated with our full-mountain experience,” says General Manager of Club Med Australia, Rachael Harding.

“Our research show that guests are looking for off-mountain activities that wow them just as much as ski does, and Club Med truly delivers this in our premium package. Our winter offering welcomes guests to become part of the Club Med snow community, where the mountains are world-class, the activities are never-ending, and they leave their holiday transformed.”

It’s a sentiment Australian and Club Med Beidahu snowboard instructor, Brandon Creighton, agrees with. He says the increase in Australians investing in premium Club Med ski holidays is because of the transformative nature of their stay: “Some of the experiences I’ve had while teaching guests how to snowboard will stay with me forever. There’s a moment and you can see it, when snowboarding gets into someone’s blood. All of a sudden they start wanting to push their limit, and finish runs with attitude! At Club Med, you can have a blast on the slopes, meet new people all the time during lunch and dinner at the in-resort restaurants, and then enjoy the après-ski activities to wind down.”

Beyond a standard snow holiday

With recent research* showing snow holidays bring families closer together, Club Med fills the gap during Australia’s own off-season, offering a truly international snow experience. Snow enthusiasts and their families can experience a whole new world of passion at Club Med resorts, through immersive cultural experiences in some of the world’s best locations.

For example, guests at Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido in Japan can savour award-winning locally-brewed spirits and Wagyu beef in-resort, while those at the brand new Club Med Les Arcs Panorama in France dive into Turkish baths and incredible slopes in one of the world’s biggest ski areas, Paradiski©.

“With bulky gear to manage, hidden additional costs and the complexity of travel, the research* shows that international snow holidays can often be daunting for Australian families,” says Harding. “However, Club Med’s all-inclusive packages and premium service make the booking and experience of a snow holiday truly easy.”

Club Med guests receive as part of their all-inclusive snow holiday:

• Accommodation with a wide-choice of room types, in the world’s best locations
• All gourmet meals in-resort and in selected altitude restaurants
• Premium open bar, including beer, wine, spirits, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages
• Kids Clubs for guests from 4 years old.^
• Evening entertainment and shows by the Club Med GO team
• Easy Arrival: Club Med’s infamous offering where ski/snowboard gear is available in guests’ private lockers upon arrival so they can hit the slopes as soon as they check-in (available in European ski resorts)
• Ski lift passes to access the slopes
• Group lessons tailored to all levels and ages, with English-speaking professional instructors
• An array of non-ski activities, from snowshoe walking and sledding to après-ski treats including hot-tubs, saunas or indoor heated swimming pools

Australia’s best Winter Olympic program athletes join the Club Med snow community

Club Med resorts across Europe and Asia opened last week with some of Australia’s best winter sportspeople in-residence, with thanks to the brand’s recent partnership with the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA). Two-time Olympian Samantha Kennedy-Sim is amongst the Ski Cross athletes training and recovering within Club Med’s expertly-appointed resorts this snow season.

“The Olympic Winter Institute of Australia chose to partner with Club Med in the lead up to the 2022 Winter Olympics so that our talented young athletes could train on the best powder with the best runs, and enjoy some ideal R&R when they’re not training,” says Chief Executive Officer of OWIA, Geoff Lipshut.
“Club Med shares our passion for the snow and our inclusive community values, making them a great partner for the OWIA and its athletes ahead of the next Winter Olympic Games.”

OWIA athletes will be on the ground in Club Med Val Thorens this snow season, and travelling to other Club Med European and Asian ski resorts in the lead-up to 2022.

A new generation of ski holidays at Club Med

Continually innovating their snow offering, Club Med is pleased to open this season with a bang in both Europe and Asia.

Leading the snow season with unprecedented interest is Club Med’s new European resort, Les Arcs Panorama in France. Guests will be immersed in the modern architecture and wide-open views upon arrival at the family-friendly Arcs 1600 ski resort. Families can make the most of Club Med’s infamous Kid’s Clubs from 4-months to 17-years old and enjoy the unique Bread & Co family restaurant, where the kids take their parents out to dinner. For something a little more indulgent, Club Med Les Arcs Panorama offers a Wellness area with Cinq Mondes spa, heated indoor and outdoor pools, Turkish baths and more.

For guests after a shorter travel time to their immersive on-snow holiday, Club Med’s recently upgraded Japanese resort, Club Med Sahoro Hokkaido enchants and delights with its breathtaking landscapes in one of Asia’s best travel destinations. The resort’s cultural experiences have expanded to include Hokkaido Soba and Temari Sushi cooking lessons, indoor rock-climbing with augmented reality, adult beginner magic carpets, and more. Those looking for Japanese culinary delights after skiing some of the world’s best powder can also enjoy the new wine list and Pierrade & Hokkaido cheese fondue or healthy Japanese buffet, all before laying their head in one of the 177 newly refurbished rooms and suites.

Join the exclusive Club Med snow community

If you’re ready to pack your bags and hit the slopes for a premium, no-hassle snow holiday, last minute bookings are still available for this season.

Pre-registration for 2019-20 ski season opens 12 December, 2018.

For further information and to book your transformative ski holiday,
visit www.clubmed.com.au.

The post Aussies seek more than only ‘ski’ snow holidays this season appeared first on Snowatch.

By Pete Taylor
Snow Forecastor & Owner
snowatch.com.au

A comprehensive review of the new Club Med Grand Massif Samoen’s Morillon resort in France

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to be invited by Club Med to review their brand new snow resort in the French Alps at Grand Massif Samoens Morillon. I’d never been to a Club Med snow resort before, but had been to three of their summer resorts (Malaysia, Bali and Mauritius) and was a big fan of the all inclusive holiday. It was on my bucket list due to the great time I had with the family during our Club Med stays over the last few years (see article on our previous Club Med trips). Knowing that Club Med resorts cater so well for families I simply had to take the family along to be able to review all angles.

It took my wife Adele all of a second or two to agree to come, the two boys Zane 13 and Kalan 9 (nearly 10) were not so enthusiastic as I had told them if we head to France then we most likely wouldn’t be going to interschools in Thredbo this year. I was gobsmacked when they whinged and complained saying they would prefer a week in Thredbo racing rather than a week in the French Alps with another week in Paris tacked onto the end of the trip.

Once they saw the photos of the resort, including the indoor and outdoor pools and spa they changed their minds and totally bought in (although I’m still kept getting the “we want to go to Interschools” line). They also remembered that all Club Med’s are ‘all inclusive’ so pretty much everything is included, including accommodation, food and snacks, drinks including beer, wine, cocktails and most spirits. Being a snow resort lift tickets and lessons are also included as well as kids clubs, pools, spa and sauna’s.

We booked in for the last week of the season Club Med Grand Massif Samoens Morillon. Now usually at this time of year the snow would be a little dodgy but France and most of The Alps were having an exceptional season and there was a full deep cover of snow right up til seasons end.

We flew from Sydney to Geneva via Abhu Dhabi on Emirates. It’s a 15 hour flight to Abu Dhabi and then another 7 on to Geneva, which is not easy especially as the kids like to lay all over you to get some sleep, which means you don’t get any. The plane was good with what looked like new tv screens which was very welcome considering I wasn’t going to get much if any sleep and movies would be keeping me occupied for the next day.

Flying into Geneva was spectacular, the views were simply amazing. Imagine a flat city on the edge of a lake surrounded by steep, snow covered mountains, not that I got to see much as dad never gets the window seat. The airport itself was quite small, it kinda reminded me of a regional airport not much bigger than the Gold Coast. Once we cleared customs and gathered our bags we walked out to see our Club Med driver waiting to take us up to the resort which was just over an hour away (can take up to an hour and a half if there is snow on the roads heading up). Club Med can organise transfers to and from either the airport or train station where many Europeans access the very fast train.

We were very excited as none of us had been to Europe before, it was eyes wide open for the drive up. It seemed like only 10 minutes, if that, when we crossed the border from Switzerland into France. We then drove up very green valley with mountains on either side and small villages that looked hundreds of years old, it was just what we had hoped to see. Being late in the season and a warm sunny day we didn’t have to worry about snow on the roads so the drive easy.

The resort sits at around 1600m, if you aren’t staying on mountain you can easily get the gondola up from Samonens Village below. When we arrived at the resort we were greeted at the mini bus by smiling staff as we disembarked. All the Club Med’s we had been to had started on a positive note with warm greetings and this was no different. We were asked to walk straight in and grab a refreshment as we were briefed on everything to do with the resort. Our bags were taken to our room whilst our skis and boots were taken to our lockers, ready for tomorrow.

Our first impressions were that the resort obviously had a very new, fresh look and feel. It was modern, clean and aesthetically pleasing. I’d read some reviews prior to our trip and a few had complained that it didn’t have the wooden log cabin feel, but this isn’t that type of place, it’s more high end snow chic.

We headed to our rooms to check them out. We were in the club rooms which are the basic/club level and they were both more than adequate with balcony’s with a fantastic view or the mountains and pool area. There was plenty of storage space in each room, which meant we didn’t have any clutter around. The kids pretty much dived straight onto the wifi and their ipads as they must have had withdrawals after the long trip. The resort has free wifi but it’s fairly slow so we took up the paid extra boost for the week which was around A$50 and well worth it.

It was just about time for lunch so we headed up to the restaurant to try the buffet which Club Med’s are famous for. Upon entry to lunch we couldn’t but notice the breathtaking views on both sides out to the Alps. Apart from the views all I could notice was the what seemed an endless line of breads, pastries and cheeses…Wow! Walk past that and you had the hot food, cold foods, western , French, middle eastern and Asian styles. Further up and around the corner were desserts, and ice cream bar. There are also self serve outlets for soft drinks, juices, coffee, hot chocolate and beer. You can also order wine if you feel like a tipple….and yes all is included.

After filling up we headed back to our room to relax. Although tired from pretty much no sleep on the trip over we stayed awake to try to acclimatise to the new timezone. The boys wanted to check out the pool so we headed off for a swim. The kids had a ball changing from the indoor pool to the outdoor spa and back again. Some reviews I had read said the pool was cold but it was not at all, the indoor pool was 26C and the outdoor spa 32C. The outdoor pool was still closed as there was around half to a metre of snow around it and it was still fairly cool outside. We were lucky that later in the week due to the very warm weather the outdoor pool area was cleared and the pool was the place to be in the afternoon Spring sunshine as fresh fruit and snacks were brought out to the poolside guests.

After the pool we headed back to our rooms to freshen up. Our arrival day was on a Sunday and on Sunday afternoons you need to book your ski lessons in for the week. We were a little apprehensive as what level class we should put ourselves in as we were from Australia and these mountains looked so much bigger and steeper, so we assumed everyone was going to be of a high standard. Myself, Adele and Zane were advanced skiers back home and Kalan was upper intermediate. Kalan being under 11 (nearly 10) was booked in with the kids club, and was in the second highest level. We decided to try the second highest adult level, we thought if it was too hard we would just drop down the next day.

After some pre dinner drinks at the bar, we headed upstairs for an early dinner. The kids wanted to sit in the gondolas for something different. We decided to give the nightly show a miss and have an early night due to our jetlag, we wanted to be fresh for skiing in the morning.

We woke up keen to get going and filled up on breakfast. One thing about Club Med is it’s hard to choose what to eat as there is such a wide variety. I preferred to start with orange juice, bacon, eggs, sausages, hash browns followed by pastries, breads and coffee. Adele liked the fresh fruits and yogurt whilst the boys thought the pancakes were real winner.

OK so finally it was time to get ready to hit the slopes. We headed up to the locker room where our skis, boots and poles were waiting for us after we had booked them in for a wax and edge tune overnight. The locker room was huge, clean and you wouldn’t believe had a table with fresh pastries, a coffee machine that also did hot chocolate and chilled water on tap. A quick swipe of the wrist band unlocked our two lockers. We kitted up and walked no more than 15m and we were on the snow.

Directly out the door are the ski lesson meeting areas where you meet your instructors. Our instructor was a local Frenchman called Alain who was very polite and apparently he spoke the best English out of the instructors. Our group was a mixture of nationalities, mainly French but also South African, Russian and American. Alain told us we would be taking it easy the first day and he would show us around. It turns out it wasn’t so much as a lesson but a guided tour with some tips thrown in, which was great. After taking our first lift we were told we would take long easy run which was 6km down to Morillon village which sits around 700m. The Grand Massif area is made up of five resorts, Samoens (where Club Med is situated), Morillon, Sixt, Lescarroz and Flaine. From the top there are extensive views of Mt Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, I could just sit there and watch it all day, it was amazing.

The snow was great, nice and firm early and the views very impressive from whatever direction you looked. The runs were long, wide and uncrowded, not like anything back home in Australia. We all headed back for lunch. It was starting to warm up and the snow becoming very soft, it was quite heavy going in the afternoon and only a few decided to go back out with Alain.

The next day we tried some slightly harder runs but it seemed a bit easy and we hoped for something a bit steeper. The level of skier we were with was ok but they were quite ok staying on the intermediate runs. We did a black run on Wednesday and found it quite easy, most of the the group struggled a fair bit (maybe over stating their ability/level) so Alain said they would stick to easier runs from then on.

We asked Alain at lunch that day if we could move up a class the next day, he said we could handle it and arranged for us to join the live wire Michel who was a real character. The new class were bit younger and more energetic than the previous and were a massive step up in level. We were pushed from the start and to be honest I had trouble keeping up, but it was great a huge challenge and much more enjoyable. We went all over, mainly in the Flaine area which was by far the biggest of the five resorts. By lunch we were worn out, it was a hot spring week and seemed to be getting warmer by the day. Temps by mid afternoon were in the high teens and high 20’s down in Samoens village. Michel was great with Zane, getting him to ski right behind him. He gave him many tips and Zane’s skiing technique,speed and confidence improved out of site, I was struggling to keep up with him. On Friday afternoon Michel handed us all a skiing passport that had stamped in it that we had completed Class 3 level and were now level 4 which is the highest level that France has.

At Club Med the ski school with instructor runs from Monday to Friday, so after that you ski on your own, which was fine for us as Kalan was keen to show us his improvement. He had been telling us about all the runs he had done and that they got to do race training. After the first day he was moved up to the highest level class. Apparently his race times on the last day were enough to score an invite to trial with the Grand Massif junior race squad, not that there was any point as we were leaving on Sunday, but he was more than stoked to be asked. He started the week a bit shy and apprehensive with all the other kids being French and not really speaking to him, but it soon changed and he found out most spoke some English. Instead of hanging with us after lunch he preferred to head back out with the other kids for more skiing.

Myself and Adele decided to take the gondola one afternoon down to Samoens Village which sits at an elevation of 700m. We had heard so much about it we just had to check it out. The gondola is not far from the Club Med door, a short stroll across the snow next to the ski school meeting area. The view down on the gondola was amazing, lush greenery and high snow capped peaks, very much like what you see on the coverage of the Tour de France. We were lucky to have such great weather, temps were well above average. It was shorts and t-shirt weather, although none of us brought shorts with us. The village was a very warm 26C whilst the resort was sitting around 17C (but felt much warmer in the sun) by about 3pm.

A great option for lunch or dinner is the Skyline Restaurant which is a lot more upmarket. Run by 2 Michelin Stars French chef Edouard Loubet. You need to book a day ahead for at reception for dinner as it’s very popular. In peak time you are only allowed one booking for the week. The resort was only 60% full (can fit 1,000 guests) so we had a couple of meals and lunches at Skyline. The decor is very elegant and stylish, the entrance has a lounge area and piano bar where you can sit before or after your meal, or just sit and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at any time after lunch.

The service was brilliant and the very knowledgeable staff made us feel more than welcome. The food as expected was first class. I thought being in France I’d try to the local delicacy of escargot (snails). I’m glad I tried it but wouldn’t have it again, I couldn’t get the vision of our own garden snails out of my head. If you have kids that are a little fussy then there may not be a lot on the menu to choose from, but they can always head down to the buffet to fill up. The rooftop area just outside off 360 degree panoramic views of the alps and the sunset we witnessed was truly amazing.

Both Zane and Kalan have always made friends at the Club Med’s we have been to. With it being school holidays in France most of the kids were French so there was a bit of a language barrier issue but they seemed to get around that. The older kids (11-17 year olds) also have their own play area with games and the Playstation is always a winner. Add to this the pool area and the nightly shows the kids put on and they are kept pretty busy.

I’m not sure how many drinks the kids consumed during the week, but they definitely kept the bar staff busy with making smoothies, ice coffees and soft drinks, as well as giving the hot chocolate machine a workout.

The pool area, besides having a spa outside also has a wet and a dry sauna, which I can thoroughly recommend. From what I’m told the dry spa may be good for your cardiovascular health, whilst the wet spa relaxes your muscles while giving your skin a healthy glow. I’m not too sure if it did anything for me but it felt good anyway. There is also a gym where you can either workout yourself or join in classes (all included ofcourse).

For those seeking a bit more relaxing time there is the Club Med Spa by CARITA at the resort where you can enjoy a massage, facial or beauty treatment. Adele spent a couple of hours there and wasn’t disappointed. This is pretty much the only thing that you need to pay extra for.

Each night at Club Med (and that goes for resorts all over the world) they have shows performed and run by the staff/GO’s. They are highly entertaining and of a good standard, well worth watching. After the shows which are usually around 9-10pm they also run a nightclub disco type thing around the main bar area for the late nighters. The Kids Clubs also do shows on stage which are great for the families, the smiles on the kids faces are priceless.

Our last night just happened to be the last night of the season and the staff were keen to go out with a bang and made sure everyone had a great time. The last show and dance party were quite memorable. I’m sure all the staff were looking forward to a well-earned rest, and possibly a late start in the morning.

Our time at Club Med Grand Massif Samoen’s Morillon had come to an end, and although we were a little sad to leave we now had some great memories of not only the French Alps but of our first Club Med winter resort. It was much more than I had expected. I do love the summer resorts and beach atmosphere, but I also love the snow, as does my Snowatch family. We now have our sites firmly on Japan and the new Club Med resort at Tomamu. It’s a little closer to Australia and the powder world renowned. The kids also have their eyes on the indoor wave pool for after skiing fun.

Thanks to Club Med for inviting us to check out this new jewel of the Club Med family. I’d certainly recommend Grand Massif to anyone and remember it’s all inclusive. Just arrive and then lock your wallet/purse in the room safe and enjoy all that’s available.

Australia’s Premier Snow Forecasting website – snowatch.com.au

#ClubMedInsider  #ClubMedGrandMassif

The post Why a Club Med snow holiday was on our must do list, and is now on the must do another list appeared first on Snowatch.

By Pete Taylor
Snow Forecastor & Owner
snowatch.com.au

We have are nearly at the end of the school holidays for the Victorian kids and in the middle for the NSW. We have a fantastic weekend of sunshine coming up and the crowds will no doubt flock to the mountains and make the most of the fantastic mid July conditions. Enjoy while it lasts as next week will be a totally different scenario with snow on the way.

Monday should see the clouds start to move in and we could see some light snow showers at times, nothing to get too excited about. Early Tuesday should see the winds start to pick up and clouds will increase during the day in the Victorian resorts with snow starting to fall in the afternoon. Snowfalls are then likely to increase into the night and then extend into the NSW resorts with blizzard conditions overnight and carrying into Wednesday as the snow level drops a little with snowfalls extending throughout the mountains. Wind chill will be well into the double figure negatives about the peaks so if you are on the hills then make sure you dress appropriately. To the parents of kids racing in interschools competitions that have to stand around and wait for races it’s a good idea to add an extra layer underneath for yourselves and the kids.

Snow showers should continue on and off across Thursday and Friday before clearing. The resorts look like being left with around 20-35cm with the Falls Creek and Hotham likely to do best.

To those on the slopes have a great week, take care, keep warm and always ski/board with a partner as visibility will be low.

Chains will more than likely be needed around the Victorian resorts late on Tuesday and then throughout the mountains in NSW and VIC on Wednesday morning. Throw a tarp and some old gloves in with the chains so you stay dry and your fingers don’t freeze.

Of course the great news is that the snow will eventually clear later in the week and we should be in for another cracker of a weekend with blue skies forecast. Crowds will be up again next weekend making the most of the fresh snow.

The post Wild weather ahead! appeared first on Snowatch.

By Pete Taylor
Snow Forecastor & Owner
snowatch.com.au

Published on: Jun 28, 2018 @ 20:33

We had the season starter and then cold nights for snowmaking. now we get some light snowfalls over the coming week or so, but what next? Will there be another dump? and if so when will it be?

I like the look of a system with a few fronts due to arrive around the 15th of July, and there is potential it could bring a nice fall across a few days. It’s well positioned between a two high pressure systems and looks like it will have a nice cold blast or air feeding from the south west.

Of course this is a fair way away and with the weather things can change but it’s been looking good for a few days now which is a good sign. I expect the charts to ebb and flow with this system over the next week or so but then build as it nears us. Keep an eye on the long range forecast for daily updates on this and any other possible snow bearing systems.

Pete

The post Could this be the next big dump? appeared first on Snowatch.

It started to snow heavily on Thursday night and Friday morning and continued through the weekend. The winds were gale force up top maxing out at 140km/h at the top of Thredbo on Thursday night. It was a blizzard not seen in June for some time.

From Thursday through to Monday we saw around 80-90cm fall at the major resorts of Falls Creek, Hotham, Perisher and Thredbo with Mt Buller and Selwyn a nudge over 50cm and Baw Baw just under that. All resorts now have a solid base that should last for some time, even if we weren’t to get natural snow for a while (which shouldn’t be the case). Cold temps have also allowed the snow makers to get into full swing with extended periods with the guns firing added to the great early season cover.

This week should see the sun poke it’s head out and resort staff out preparing more slopes to open as the week progresses. By weekend they will be well and truly up and running. Perisher announced today they will have 32 lifts operating for Saturday including Mt Perisher, Guthega and Blue Cow. Hotham opened up Heavenly today and it truly did look like heaven (once old mate dug out the chair, as spotted on the cams this morning).

With cool temps this week the snow will stay in excellent condition and the guns will fire overnight.

There is more snow coming next week so it’s more good news, and remember Snowatch now has daily 15 day forecasts for each resort and a general long range forecast.

The Snowatch forecasts are done manually by Pete (The Frog), human forecasts for humans. The only thing that is automated from the BOM is the temp data. Everything else is done from experience over the last 20 years of following the snow, hard work and instinct. All the text for each day, the sun, snow, cloud, rain icons are carefully selected, the wind direction, the predicted snow depth and likelihood of snow making added and the satellite images with comments are all created by The Frog to hopefully give you as easy snapshot of what’s to come.

Forecasts you see on other sites are computer automated and rely on algorithms to choose when and how much snow we will get, so you will pretty much see them all say the same thing. If you want it real where you can actually ask questions or for thoughts on coming systems or snow trips you were thinking of booking then Snowatch is the place to head to. Beware imitations – there is only one Frog.

snowatch.com.au

The post Jubilation in June as Season 2018 goes from zero to hero appeared first on Snowatch.

By Pete Taylor
Snow Forecastor & Owner
snowatch.com.au

Season 2018 is about to change for the better in a big way. The Juice is about to be put back into June. It may be a week or so late and we didn’t quite kick off the season the way we would have liked last weekend but fear not, a dump is coming.

The first of a series of cold fronts moved across the mountains Tuesday morning. It was only weak and dropped a little snow up high and showers on the lower slopes. That was expected so no need to worry. We will see some light scattered snow showers across Wednesday and Thursday with the snow level starting to drop.

Things really kick into gear late on Thursday with heavy snowfalls and blizzard conditions overnight and into Friday with decent snow falling for most of Friday to low levels. This should give us enough snow for the resorts to groom and get some runs open for the weekend which is great news. Don’t expect a lot to open up quickly as it takes time for ski patrol to safety check and mark obstacles.

The snow will continue to fall on Saturday and Sunday with another front crossing the mountains. The snow should start to clear later on Monday and by then we should see anywhere from 50-70cm’s in the resorts (check the daily Snowatch 15 day resort forecasts for amount updates). The snow will compact a fair bit so don’t expect to see the actual snow depth anywhere near that.

With cold temps from Thursday through to Monday we should see the snow makers in full swing with all guns blazing for extended periods (even days at a time with temps likely to remain below zero).

If you are in the mountains during this time be careful on the roads as they will be snow affected on Friday and through the weekend. Chains will more than likely need to be fitted so make sure they fit and also that you have someone in the car that knows how to put them on (a practice or refresher before leaving is always helpful). Having a tarp to kneel on and an old pair of gloves so your hands don’t freeze is also a good idea.

By early next week things will be looking great in the resorts and we should see quite a few runs and lifts open for business, don’t expect too much too early though. The long range outlook is also very good for more follow up snowfalls, so June could really be a ‘juicy’ one.

Pete

#juicyjune

snowatch.com.au

The post June is about to get Juicy – A Season Starter! appeared first on Snowatch.

By Pete Taylor
Snow Forecastor & Owner
snowatch.com.au

With little to no natural snow in the resorts it will be touch and go for some to get a lift or two running for opening weekend. So what’s the likelihood of resorts have a run or two going?

Here is how I see it:

There will be some snowmaking opportunities over the next week which will help but there is also a large moisture band due to arrive in the mountains on Friday that could really put a dampener on the opening weekend festivities. There is also a ‘but’ with that. The system ‘could’ also drop some white flakes. The snow line looks to be marginal at the moment and if it shifts one degree less we may get 5-10cm, but if it goes the other way and sits around 2C then we are in for a wet weekend and it will cause damage to the already thin man made cover.

Perisher

If anything will be open it’s definitely Perisher with their extensive snowmaking capabilities on Front Valley and even up to mid station. They always seem to get the guns firing before everyone else and stack up whales of snow at the bottom, then get the groomers spread it out prior to opening. The current cover is thin but building all the time and will no doubt they will be open for business come next Saturday.

Thredbo

Looks to be struggling at the moment and will need a huge snowmaking effort over the coming week to open anything. They will do their best to get Friday Flat and the Merritt’s areas open but I think it’s long odds at the moment. Best they could hope for is a strip on Friday Flat.

Charlotte Pass

Opens mid June so no news there.

Selwyn Snow Resort

Being the lowest of the NSW resorts Selwyn struggles to make snow as often as the higher resorts due to marginal temps. I thought their savour would be the ‘snow factory’ technology they bought last season (which is the same as Mt Buller and Baw Baw have), but I have been informed by the resort that it was sent back as “it didn’t suit their needs”. That seems a bit odd as the snow factory is the sole reason that both Buller and Baw Baw will be able to have slopes open next weekend. Selwyn is at long odds to have New Chum running as the showers on Friday will damage the thin cover.

Mt Buller

Now with the ‘Snow Factory’ technology Buller has been stockpiling snow for the last month. This snow will be spread out by the grooming team over the coming days and along with snowmaking adding to it we should see enough of a cover to have Bourke Street open next weekend.

Falls Creek

With limited opportunities to fire up the snow guns over the last week or two Falls is struggling with a very thin cover. They would have been hoping to have at least Towers and maybe Wombat’s Ramble open, but it will take a big snowmaking effort for that to happen, and with the showers forecast for Friday it will be a step back. If we get lucky with snow falling on Friday night and into Saturday, then possibly we could see something open but don’t hold your breathe.

Hotham

Hotham finds itself pretty much in the same predicament as Falls Creek. They haven’t been able to make a lot of snow so far. They will be doing their best to get Big D and The Summit open, and it could be possible with a big week of snowmaking. If we can add some natural snow it may help but the likely early showers on Friday will not help at all. Probably unlikely to have lifts running just yet.

Baw Baw

Like Buller they have invested in the Snow Factory technology and have been stockpiling snow for some time. They should be able to spread that out enough to have a run open, and enough snow for those wanting to have a play. Well done Snow Factory, because without it Baw Baw could not open (and maybe not for a while yet).

Even is the lifts aren’t spinning at your favourite resort the opening weekend has always been the party weekend and the big resorts all have a variety of festivities that you can enjoy, just jump onto their website or facebook pages for details.

Keep an eye on the Snowatch forecasts over the coming days to see what eventuates with the front due late next week.

Pete

The post Opening weekend: What lifts/runs will be open? appeared first on Snowatch.