Australia’s abnormally warm ski season closes resorts early and exposes shrinking snowpack

Australia’s 2026 ski season is ending unusually early after warm temperatures, rain and scarce natural snowfall left major alpine areas dependent on manufactured snow. Mount Hotham closed roughly a month ahead of its customary schedule, while shops in Jindabyne and workers around Perisher reported cancelled shifts, early closures and weaker trade. The disruption extends beyond recreation because mountain towns rely heavily on a short winter season for employment and business income.

The measurements behind the bad season

Snowy Hydro’s long-running gauge at Spencers Creek, between Perisher and Thredbo, shows average snow depths have declined by nearly 20% since measurements began in 1954. In 2026, depth peaked at 94 centimetres in mid-August and had fallen to just over 21 centimetres by the Guardian’s September reporting visit. At the same point in 2025, the gauge stood at about 200 centimetres.

Conditions on the slopes reflected those numbers. Bare ground surrounded idle lifts, some visitors skied only on manufactured snow and a rental shop decided to shut one month early. Operators said tourists who arrived generally remained enthusiastic, but shorter seasons reduce the number of viable trading days and make staffing, accommodation bookings and equipment investment harder to plan.

From seasonal setback to structural risk

A single poor winter cannot establish a climate trend by itself. The concern comes from combining the exceptional 2026 season with the multi-decade decline in measured snow depth. The European Commission’s SnowShifts research project describes snow regimes as an important uncertainty in climate models and is developing satellite, sensor and modelling tools to identify long-term shifts from polar areas to mid-latitude mountain ranges.

That distinction matters for policy. Resorts can manage year-to-year variability with snowmaking, grooming and alternative summer activities, but artificial snow still requires sufficiently cold air, water, electricity and capital. When warm periods arrive more often or rain rapidly removes new snow, the cost of preserving a reliable season rises. Smaller operators and casual workers are likely to feel the pressure before the largest resorts do.

The next test will be whether governments and the industry treat 2026 as an isolated disappointment or update regional adaptation plans. Decisions on water allocation, energy-efficient snowmaking, transport infrastructure, workforce support and year-round tourism will shape which communities remain viable. Further measurements at Spencers Creek will also show whether the sharp end-of-season collapse continues the long decline or proves an exceptional low point.