Australian Ski Season 2025: Still Holding On

After a strong start — with solid snowfalls through June and into mid-July building a healthy base at higher elevations — the Australian ski season has skied well so far. The past few weeks have seen snowfall slow to a trickle, relying on that early base and cold overnight temps to keep conditions holding up.

There’s a glimmer of good news: signs are emerging that a more active pattern could return toward the end of this week, potentially refreshing the slopes just in time for late-season visitors.

Climate Drivers in Play
This season has been shaped by a neutral ENSO and a mostly positive Southern Annular Mode (SAM) through mid-winter. A positive SAM often keeps the belt of westerlies further south, reducing the number of strong cold fronts reaching the mainland. This likely explains the recent lull in snowfall.

Looking ahead, models suggest SAM may swing more negative into late August — a shift that can open the door for more frequent fronts and moisture-laden systems to push across the Alps. If this eventuates, we could see a late-season top-up through the second half of the month.

Sea surface temperatures in the Southern Ocean are also running slightly cooler than average, which can help maintain cold air intrusions into September. That’s a positive sign for snow retention, though spring sun and warmer days will still take their toll at lower elevations.

Still, there’s a touch of nerves in the alpine community after the premature melts of 2023 and 2024 cut seasons short. For now, the higher resorts remain in good shape — but all eyes are on the skies, and the SAM index, to see if winter can deliver one more strong burst before spring takes over.