Photo: Maren Winter
South Island skiers will be holding out hope for snow as temperatures plummet this weekend.
A number of club skifields have yet to open, or have opened only to close again, while many commercial ski fields have relied on snow making to open.
"No snow in August on many ski fields. This could be the first time in our lives that local club fields do not open at all," Christchurch City Council climate resilience advisor Tony Moore noted on LinkedIn.
MetService said a series of cold fronts would see temperatures drop on Friday heading into the weekend, heralding the return of widespread frosts.
Snow was expected down to 800 metres for the North Island ranges, and as low as 500 metres across the Canterbury High Country and Southern Lakes.
State Highway 8 between Fairlie and Lake Pukaki in Canterbury has reopened following a closure due to snow.
The Transport Agency said waiting vehicles were being piloted through the reopened section by maintenance vehicles.
Road users are urged to take extra care on the stretch of highway, and also SH79 between Fairlie and the Gudex Road intersection.
SH73 between Springfield and Arthur's Pass is closed to heavy vehicles, and chains are essential.
Snowfall warnings which were in place for Arthur's and Porters Passes until 9pm on Friday have now expired.
A snowfall warning is in place for Lewis Pass until 12am on Saturday, with 1-2cm expected to accumulate above 700 metres.
In the North Island, MetService has issued a snowfall warning for the Desert Road from 4am until 11am on Saturday, with snow showers expected to affect the road on Saturday morning.
️Snow!️
— MetService (@MetService) August 7, 2025
Check out the Crown Range webcam going from its usual grassy brown at dawn to a blanket of white!
Keep up to date with our Road Snows: https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5
And up to date with road conditions with NZTA.@nztaos @nztacwc pic.twitter.com/sweZQpIf73
Mt Cheeseman said it was "still hanging out for snow" on its social media, Broken River was yet to open, while Craigieburn posted "a lean July and leaner start to August has meant we are not yet in a position to open the field for skiing."
Mt Lyford was closed on Friday, as was Mt Dobson, Mt Olympus, Hanmer Springs Ski Area and Fox Peak, though all have opened earlier in the season.
Last year was New Zealand's third warmest winter on record https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/527013/climate-winter-2024-the-third-warmest-on-record-niwa, according to NIWA data, and earlier this year the organisation predicted a milder winter https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/562847/a-warmer-winter-is-on-its-way-niwa-says, with air temperatures expected to be above average across all New Zealand regions for the season, and less frequent cold snaps and frosts.
Five of New Zealand's six warmest winters have occurred since 2020.
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