Nervous wait for snow after 'terrible' start to NSW ski season

Nervous wait for snow in NSW alps ahead of school holidays Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:13pm In short: Warm temperatures and rain have hindered snowfall and snow-making efforts at NSW resorts so far this winter. Snowatch forecaster Peter Taylor says it has been a "terrible" start to the season. What's next? There is potential for snow to fall later in the week, ahead of the NSW school holidays starting this weekend. Alpine communities in the NSW Snowy Mountains are facing a nervous wait to see if forecast snowfalls can rectify a "terrible" start to the season. Warm temperatures and rain have hindered natural snowfall and snow-making operations at ski resorts. Since the season was declared open on June 6, 14 centimetres of snow has been recorded at Spencers Creek and it has since melted away. Snowatch forecaster Peter Taylor said it had been a rough start to winter. "By Thursday morning, we're probably going to reach the lowest of the lows as far as the season's concerned, and it's probably looking like the worst on record start to the season I've seen," he said. But temperatures are expected to drop later in the week, improving the chances for snow. "We should have snowfalls Thursday night through Friday and maybe Saturday morning," Mr Taylor said. "Then it clears up next week with fine, sunny weather and cold nights for snow-making." That optimism is backed up by the Bureau of Meterology, which predicts up to 10 centimetres of snow to fall as low as 1,200 metres elevation on Thursday. "Obviously it's been a pretty average snow season so far, but at least there's a little bit on the way," meteorologist Robert Urbaniak said. "Snow is tricky to forecast ... if it comes down before it's cold enough, then it falls as rain." Hopes for snow Businesses in the alps have recently spoken out about the lack of snowfall, and are hoping conditions improve in July in time for the school holidays. Michelle Lindsay, owner of Alpine Sports in Jindabyne, said many beginner skiers were still taking to the slopes, happy to learn on patchy conditions. But she is aware the bulk of the visitors, and the tourism dollars, will come when the snow does. "Like everybody in town, we're quite anxious to see some snow fall as soon as possible. It's been a very slow start," Ms Lindsay said. "People won't come if there's no snow, but we're very excited there is snow in the forecast before the school holidays." Victoria is in the midst of its school holidays and in NSW the holidays start this weekend. "We can't control what Mother Nature does, but as soon as it comes, everything changes," Ms Lindsay said. "It doesn't take much to turn it around from a late start to a great season. "Everyone is just waiting with bated breath for the snow to come in and the people to come in so we can get this season started."