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Latest in Canterbury
Canterbury Set for Major Dump as Storm Cycle Rolls Across New Zealand
After a settled week, New Zealand's ski season is about to get a proper shake-up. A storm rolling in from Friday will bring rain and gale-force winds before a cold southerly change drops fresh snow across the South Island. The Southern Lakes should pick up 10-15cm by Sunday, while Canterbury is in line for the goods - Mt Hutt and the Craigieburns are forecast solid totals, with the north set to cop the heaviest falls of the lot. Ruapehu largely misses out, but Opening Day should be a cracker.
Michael Fulton
Rainbow Ski Area Moves to Weekend-Only Operations After Failed Season
New Zealand's Rainbow Ski Area is scaling back to weekend operations with volunteer support after receiving just 29 cm of natural snow in 2025. The club field recorded a total season loss following unprecedented low snowfall in Nelson Lakes National Park.
Michael Fulton
Mt. Hutt's Opening Day Rescheduled Due to Heavy Snowfall Forecast
Mt. Hutt ski resort in New Zealand has adjusted its opening day back to June 13 due to an unexpectedly large snowfall forecast, promising excellent early-season conditions for skiers and riders.
Michael Fulton
New Zealand Ski Resorts Anticipate Major Snowfall: Up to 4 Feet Expected
New Zealand's ski resorts are preparing for a significant early-season snowfall, with forecasts predicting up to 4 feet of snow across the Southern Alps this week.
Michael Fulton
Mt Hutt Opens Early for 2025 Ski Season After Major Snowfall
Mt Hutt in New Zealand has announced an early opening for the 2025 ski season, starting from May 31, following a significant snowstorm that delivered 120cm of snow to the resort.
Michael Fulton
Record May Snowfall at Mt. Hutt Ski Resort
Mt. Hutt in New Zealand's Canterbury region has received an unprecedented 1.2 metres of snow in early May, potentially leading to an early season opening.
Michael Fulton
Latest News
More from the SnowStash desk
Val Gardena to Alpe di Siusi Lift Link Back in Play After Court Ruling
The Val Gardena-Alpe di Siusi lift link isn’t dead after all. A South Tyrol court has overturned Santa Cristina’s rejection of the new Monte Pana-Saltria link on procedural grounds, after the council skipped required public information sessions. Opponents want the missing sessions held and a fresh vote, and nothing has been approved. For now it’s still a bus between the two, but a plan first floated in 2017 is back in the conversation.
8 Nov 2026
Whistler Blackcomb Rockslide Zone Stays Closed Through 2026-27 Season
A section of Whistler Peak terrain will stay closed all 2026-27 season, Vail Resorts has confirmed, with rockslide mitigation work continuing into summer 2027. Peak Express is still expected to run this winter, but locals are already arguing about what’s actually off limits, whether the Whistler Bowl is gone, and why the news landed after pass sales wound down. Here’s where things stand.
7 Nov 2026
Loveland Ski Area Opens for 2026-27 and Marks 60 Years of Snowmaking
Loveland is open. The Colorado ski area started Chet’s Dream turning on Saturday 7 November to kick off 2026-27, with $60 adult lift tickets to mark 60 years of snowmaking. Expect three runs, nearly 1,000 vertical feet (about 300 metres) of top-to-bottom skiing, live music on the Basin Patio and no beginner terrain yet. Here’s what’s open, what it costs and when Loveland Valley follows.
7 Nov 2026
KFC Is Coming to the Slopes at Cortina and Madonna di Campiglio
Fried chicken is heading up the Dolomites. From 5 December KFC will run two restaurants on the slopes - one at 2,123 metres at Cortina, one at 1,700 metres at Madonna di Campiglio - and the polenta-and-canederli crowd has opinions. Local politicians, conservation groups and plenty of Facebook commenters are calling it a step too far, while others just want a cheaper lunch. Here’s what’s on the menu and what’s the fuss.
5 Nov 2026
Mt Rose Aims to Open First in Tahoe on November 6
Mt Rose is going for the first-in-Tahoe title, with the Lakeview Express due to spin at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 6. One main lift, three runs and plenty of snowmaking, sitting on the highest base elevation in the region at 8,260 ft. Here is what is open, what is not (sorry, tubing fans), and how the early North American openings are stacking up.
4 Nov 2026
Europe Snow Forecast: Serre Chevalier Leads With 82 cm Over the Next 10 Days
Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.
4 Nov 2026
Mammoth Mountain Opens Early on November 5 With Up to 33 Inches of Snow in the Forecast
Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.
3 Nov 2026
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026