The Australian ski season 2026 was one of the worst on record. Snowy Hydro's readings at Spencers Creek, near Charlotte Pass, peaked at just 94.5 cm on 13 August 2026, against a long-term average peak of 196.2 cm, Weatherzone reported, and five resorts closed almost a month early. A record-strength El Niño, an unusually warm winter and rain were behind it.
The 2026 snowpack, week by week
The season started late: Weatherzone reported in August 2026 that the snowpack at Spencers Creek "didn't become established until July". It peaked at 94.5 cm on 13 August, and Weatherzone noted that if that held it would be the third-lowest peak in records going back to 1954. It held.
The melt came early too. SBS reported that the depth was down to 31.2 cm on 3 September 2026, a historic low for the date, and Weatherzone recorded 10.5 cm on 17 September. Its verdict, published on 18 September 2026: "2026 was among the poorest on record by any measure."
Spencers Creek snow depth, 2026: from the peak to the melt
Snowy Hydro's manual readings at 1,830 m, near Charlotte Pass, from the peak to the end of the season
The long-term average peak is 196.2 cm.
Source: Snowy Hydro, reported by Weatherzone and SBS (August–September 2026)
Show the data
| Date | Value |
|---|---|
| 13 Aug | 94.5 cm |
| 3 Sep | 31.2 cm |
| 17 Sep | 10.5 cm |
Spencers Creek's lowest peak snow depths since 1954
Source: Snowy Hydro, reported by Weatherzone
Show the data
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Long-term average peak | 196.2 cm |
| 2026 | 94.5 cm |
| 1982 | 91 cm |
| 2006 (lowest on record) | 85.1 cm |
Why the Australian ski season 2026 failed
El Niño was the main driver. The Bureau of Meteorology declared El Niño on 16 June 2026, CSIRO reported, with modelling suggesting it could become one of the strongest on record.
It didn't act alone. Mountainwatch noted that the Southern Annular Mode was positive in May and June 2026, a pattern that keeps snow-bearing cold fronts further south, towards Antarctica, rather than over the Alps. The WMO's September 2026 update also expected a positive Indian Ocean Dipole through spring, which tends to mean a drier season in south-east Australia.
Rain finished the job. Mountainwatch reported one storm dropping 80 mm of rain across the Alps in the middle of the 2026 season, washing away much of the snow that had fallen in July.
How the resorts coped
July 2026 was the high point. Mountainwatch reported that Perisher went from five lifts open on 3 July to 27 two weeks later, and Thredbo had its first proper powder day on 13 July. Mt Hotham and Falls Creek reached depths of about 65 cm, according to Mountainwatch.
Snowmaking kept skiing going at all. Mountainwatch reported that Mt Buller kept lifts turning on Bourke Street and that Thredbo kept its Friday Flat beginners' area open until 13 September 2026. Elsewhere the terrain shrank:
| Resort | What closed | When (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Perisher | Guthega and Smiggins | end of August |
| Perisher | Blue Cow lifts | 10 September |
| Perisher | Front Valley, its last lifts | 25 September |
Across the mainland, five resorts closed almost a month early, SBS reported on 5 September 2026, leaving three of the eight mainland resorts open.
How long is the Australian ski season?
Australia's ski season usually runs from June to September, according to Project Powder's season data for all 12 Australian resorts. In 2026 there was little natural snow until July, and most lifts had stopped by mid-September.
The Australian ski season 2027 outlook
NOAA expects this El Niño to begin weakening in early 2027. Colombia's weather agency, IDEAM, using NOAA's diagnosis in November 2026, gives it a 61% chance of lasting until May 2027, and the models give about a 33% chance of La Niña developing by mid-2027, Infobae reported. Forecasts made before autumn are unreliable, so it's too early to call the 2027 season; we'll look at it properly in autumn.
In the meantime, our Australia snow report keeps forecasting through the off-season. If 2026 left you short of turns, the northern season has started: see the ski resort opening dates for 2026 and our El Niño snow outlook for where the odds look best.
Questions people ask
How long is the ski season in Australia?
Australia's ski season usually runs from June to September, according to Project Powder's season data. In 2026 the snowpack wasn't established until July, and Perisher's Front Valley lifts closed on 25 September.
Are Australian ski fields open?
Australian ski fields are closed until the 2027 season, which usually starts in June. The 2026 season ended early: five resorts closed almost a month early, and Perisher's Front Valley ran until 25 September 2026. Our Australia snow report shows forecasts for every resort year-round.
Why was the 2026 ski season so bad in Australia?
Australia's 2026 ski season was hit by a record-strength El Niño, an unusually warm winter and heavy rain. Snowy Hydro's Spencers Creek readings peaked at 94.5 cm, the third-lowest peak since 1954, according to Weatherzone.
Will 2027 be a better ski season in Australia?
The 2027 Australian ski season is too early to call. NOAA expects El Niño to begin weakening in early 2027, and the models give about a one-in-three chance of La Niña by mid-2027, but forecasts made before autumn are unreliable.