Poor start to 2026 Australian ski season amid warm weather and El Niño
Consensus Summary
Australian ski resorts in New South Wales and Victoria are facing a challenging start to the 2026 season due to unusually warm temperatures and El Niño conditions, which have limited natural snowfall. Since the season opened on June 6, only 14 cm of snow was recorded at Spencers Creek, and it melted quickly. Forecasters predict up to 10 cm of snow by Thursday, but accumulation may be hindered by wet ground. Snow-making operations are underway, with resorts like Perisher using up to 200 guns to create artificial snow. Businesses in alpine communities, such as Alpine Sports in Jindabyne, are anxious for conditions to improve before the NSW school holidays begin this weekend, as tourism revenue depends on sufficient snow. Climate change has contributed to long-term declines in snow cover, with peak depths decreasing by 0.7 cm/year at Spencers Creek and 0.6 cm/year at Rocky Valley Dam since the 1950s. While some industry representatives downplay the early struggles as typical for June, others highlight the severity of the situation, with one forecaster calling it the worst start on record.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Only 14 centimetres of snow was recorded at Spencers Creek since the NSW ski season opened on June 6, 2026, and it melted away.
- The Bureau of Meteorology predicts up to 10 centimetres of snow to fall as low as 1,200 metres elevation on Thursday, June 2026.
- Snow coverage in Australia is in long-term decline due to increasing temperatures caused by climate change, with peak snow depths decreasing by 0.7 cm/year at Spencers Creek (NSW) and 0.6 cm/year at Rocky Valley Dam (Victoria) since the late 1950s.
- El Niño conditions were declared by the Bureau of Meteorology on June 16, 2026, contributing to warmer and drier conditions affecting the ski season.
- Perisher Resort and Thredbo Resort are among the NSW ski resorts struggling with patchy snow conditions.
- NSW school holidays begin this weekend (July 2026), a critical period for ski tourism revenue.
- Snow-making operations are ongoing at resorts like Perisher, with up to 200 snow guns used when conditions allow.
- June has traditionally delivered mixed snow results, with about 35% of seasons starting with limited cover until July, according to Buller Ski Lifts.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Snowwatch forecaster Peter Taylor called the start to the season the 'worst on record' and predicted snowfalls Thursday night through Friday and Saturday morning, followed by fine, sunny weather and cold nights for snow-making.
- Michelle Lindsay, owner of Alpine Sports in Jindabyne, expressed anxiety about the lack of snow, stating, 'People won’t come if there’s no snow, but we’re very excited there is snow in the forecast before the school holidays.'
- The ABC South East NSW reporter Floss Adams provided visuals of Perisher Valley’s current conditions.
- A glum would-be skier posted a clip from Perisher showing muddy slopes with only a 'white ribbon of death' of manufactured snow, sparking online comments.
- Protect Our Winters Australia blamed the fossil fuel industry for shrinking snow coverage, citing El Niño as a natural cycle exacerbated by climate change.
- Mount Buller’s George’s Ski Hire owner Rob Aivatoglou noted 25 cm of snow fell during the King’s Birthday long weekend but melted quickly, calling the start 'frustrating.'
- Bess Nolan-Cook, CEO of Tourism North East Victoria, stated June has traditionally delivered mixed results and they anticipate snow for the rest of the season.
- Dani Wright, spokeswoman for Vail Resorts (Perisher), mentioned the need for -2°C wet bulb temperatures to produce snow with their automated guns.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC’s Peter Taylor described the start as the 'worst on record,' while SMH’s Bess Nolan-Cook and Noel Landry (Buller Ski Lifts) stated low June snow is not unusual and does not suggest long-term low coverage.
- ABC reported 14 cm of snow at Spencers Creek since June 6, while SMH did not provide a specific number but noted patchy snow conditions across NSW and Victoria.
Source Articles
Nervous wait for snow after 'terrible' start to NSW ski season
Snow may finally be on the way as NSW ski resorts ride out a slow start to the season.
‘Frustrating start’ to ski season as climate change and El Nino weather pattern converge
Resort operators in NSW and Victoria insist the muddy start to the season is not unusual and does not suggest coverage will remain low.