Australia's Snow Drought Breaks as Storm "Buries" the Ski Resorts

After weeks of staring at brown paddocks pretending to be ski runs, Australia's resorts have woken up "buried" - and we're using that word rather generously, but after the season so far, nobody's arguing.

Two days ago, the webcams across the Australian ski fields were showing exactly what they've been showing since the season opened: grass, dirt, and the occasional optimistic patch of man-made snow clinging on for dear life. Then, mercifully, the sky remembered what it was supposed to be doing. A cold change swept through overnight and dumped genuine, honest-to-god snow across both the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian high country, blizzard conditions and all. It's still coming down at several resorts as the day goes on.

New South Wales finally gets its turn

Thredbo has recorded 24 centimetres in the past 24 hours - modest by the standards of a normal season, but downright thrilling by the standards of the one we've just had. Strong winds gusting to 56 km/h are giving lift operations a hard time, though Friday Flat, the Easy Does It chairlift and both snow runners are expected to open.

Perisher reported 20 centimetres overnight, taking its storm total to 25 centimetres, with blizzard conditions and a feels-like of -10°C making sure nobody forgets it's actually winter. Snow guns have also fired up to pile on top of the natural fall, with the Front Valley conveyor, Mitchell T-Bar and Sturt T-Bar to Tower 1 among the lifts scheduled to run.

Victoria isn't missing out on the party either

Hotham's having what might be its best morning of the season so far...., with 23 centimetres of fresh, dense snow overnight pushing its storm total to 30 centimetres and getting Summit Trainer back open for skiing and boarding.

Falls Creek picked up 14 centimetres as the storm eased into blizzard conditions overnight, with Halley's lift scheduled to run from 10am to 3pm while patrol works out what else can safely open.

Mt Buller reported 17 centimetres of fresh snow with flurries continuing through the day, though coverage is still limited on Bourke Street and an 85 km/h gust overnight was a solid reminder that this storm meant business.

What comes next

With snow still falling at several resorts through Friday and snowmaking running flat out wherever conditions allow, the mountains will be doing everything they can to bank a proper base before the school holiday crowds arrive. It's not a season-saving dump by any stretch, but after the start we've had, we'll happily take "buried" in the loosest possible sense of the word.