A cool chill has begun creeping across Australia, reminding us that winter is almost here. While many Aussies are clinging to beach days and balmy nights, skiers and snowboarders are crossing their fingers for a ripper snow season in 2025. The past two winters have been pretty disappointing for snow enthusiasts, with warm temperatures delaying the start of the season and rainy weather forcing Australia's top ski resorts to shut earlier than usual. Of course, we can’t be certain what Mother Nature has in store for this year’s ski season, but here’s what the weather gods are predicting so far.
Let’s start with El Niño. In April 2025, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) announced the end of this seasonal weather pattern, announcing the Pacific Ocean had returned to a neutral state. It’s forecasted to remain neutral until at least September, which is promising as it means we’re less likely to see the dry, warm weather typically associated with El Niño. In the past, neutral years have also delivered better snow depth than either El Niño or La Niña years. So that's a good sign.
Another player in the snow prediction game is the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which you can think of as the difference in sea surface temperatures between the western and eastern Indian Ocean. IOD events typically peak during the Aussie winter, but they’re notoriously tricky to predict. As of May 1, the BOM predicts a neutral IOD until at least August. Unlike a positive IOD, which usually brings drier and warmer conditions to southeast Australia (bad for snow), or a negative IOD, which brings wetter and cooler conditions (better for snow), a neutral IOD means other climate drivers (yep, climate change) call the shots.
This part isn’t great news, especially with Australia bracing for one of its warmest winters yet. The BOM is forecasting higher-than-average temperatures from May to July, along with below-average rainfall across the alpine regions of Victoria and New South Wales. According to Weather Zone, “This may lead to lower natural snow accumulation leading up to the start of the season in June.” As a result, it’s looking like ski resorts will be relying heavily on man-made snow to kick off the 2025 season rather than fresh, natural powder.
As we’ve mentioned, snowfall is incredibly hard to predict, so for now, all we can do is cross our fingers and hope. The Snowy Mountains received its first dusting of snow on May 1, sparking hope among resort operators that conditions could change. The first Aussie ski resorts set to open for the 2025 season on June 7 include Falls Creek Alpine Resort, Mount Buller, Perisher and Thredbo Alpine Resort.
If you can’t wait until winter, Corin Forest (Canberra’s closest alpine resort) has launched its pre-season ahead of schedule. Thanks to cutting-edge snowmaking technology, you can hit the slopes on a toboggan, build a snowman or start an epic snowball battle in this winter wonderland. Hopefully, it’s just a taster of the Aussie ski season to come!