Local skifields have endured one of the leanest snow seasons in history, while across the South Island some skifields have had to close for periods.
Snow Farm in the Cardrona Valley will be extending its season after a dry July and August reduced the popular ski resort to just 5-7km compared to the usual 20-50km terrain and a small closure period.
“The season started strong with a 30cm snowfall in early July, just in time for a bustling school holiday period. But by late July, the repeated warm weather systems brought rain and high temperatures,” operations manager Lisa Jones said.
“It’s one of the leanest snow years we’ve ever seen.”
Despite the conditions, Snow Farm was able to stay open with limited terrain for four weeks, even hosting an international ski race, the Merino Muster.
The skifield relies on natural snow, as opposed to the help of snow-making machines which their closest neighbour at Cardrona Ski resort has as an advantage.
Chief mountains officer for Cardrona and Treble Cone Laura Hedley said they had a testing season. The mountain’s data reported it had been one of the lowest natural snow years in recent memory.
“Snowfall in 2025 has been low, but our terrain and snow team have risen to the occasion … Now the snow has arrived, we have opened all lifts at both mountains, and there is a lot of off-piste to explore.
Despite the challenges, Cardrona had the highest guest numbers in its history, she said. The numbers were not available when asked.
This year has been a lighter snow year across New Zealand. Most ski areas have been able to open by doing so with mostly man-made snow.
Winter snowfall has been “abysmal” for many this year, particularly near Wānaka which had its second-lowest winter average snowfall on record.
Earth Sciences New Zealand hydrological forecasting scientist Dr Jono Conway said winter snowfall was well below average for much of the country.
“It’s been an abysmal year for some areas.
“Our high elevation weather stations tell us it’s been a mixed bag for our alpine regions.
“Some places saw near-average snowfall, but what stands out is the number of low or record-low total snowfall readings.”
He said snow played a significant role in both national water flows and the economy, because snowmelt contributed up to 50% of winter inflows to major hydroelectricity lakes.
Dr Conway said the Albert Burn weather station, near Lake Wānaka, had only 47% of its average winter total snowfall this year.
“So, we’ve got 14 years of records there and that is the second-lowest snowfall we’ve had there.”
The Cardrona Valley skifields as well as Treble Cone had received about 15cm of snow.
“These are the conditions we’ve been waiting for,” Ms Hedley said.
Now New Zealand’s biggest ski resort, Cardrona has been a mecca for skiers and snowboarders of all levels this season with the introduction of Cardrona’s 150ha of new terrain in Soho Basin.
“It’s been amazing to see skiers and snowboarders from across New Zealand, Australia and further afield up this week enjoying great conditions at both mountains,” Ms Hedley said.
At Snow Farm a late burst of spring snow has extended the season by two weeks, with a new closing date of September 28.
“The last four springs have consistently delivered excellent conditions and we’re looking forward to the rest of the season,” Ms Jones said.
About 1.7 million people visited skifields in New Zealand in 2019.
Dr Conway said computer modelling work, done over the past three decades, showed there appeared to be less snowfall each decade than the previous one.
“I think it’s fair to say that New Zealand’s had the best part of 1°C of warming, nationally, over the last century, and that’s stacking the odds against snowfall.”
He said snow-making machines were helping many skifields to remain open.
“That’s really saved their bacon this season, I think.”
Despite the decline in the amount of snowfall this winter, he said there was still a future for skiing in Otago.