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Will Australia have a bumper ski season?
Rob Sharpe, Thursday May 26, 2016 - 05:24 AEST
The Australian snow season is a fickle beast and this year will be no different, but there should be great joy in the end.
As we finish autumn, our country still only thinks itâ??s about halfway through the season, with temperatures well above average for large swathes of the nation, including the Alps. The sea surface temperatures surrounding our island nation are also well above average, which doesn't bode well for the start of the season.
Last year's poor start to the season is set to be repeated. We will still see the odd useful snowfall, but rain events and warm periods should be more prevalent. Nights in particular should be warmer than average, hampering snow-making efforts. Hopefully we get some well-timed fronts for the school holidays.
During July we should see the season take a noticeable turn as the climate drivers change gear. We are likely to be heading into the wet phase on the Indian Ocean Dipole and either a La Nina or neutral conditions in the Pacific Ocean. Combining these factors with the higher-than-usual sea surface temperatures surrounding the nation means there will be no shortage of moisture for frontal systems. The only question will be: will it fall as snow or as rain?
As the season progresses the chances of great snowfalls increases as temperatures continue to fall and moisture levels become high. In August we should see the snow season kick right into gear and help us forget all of our early-season worries.
September may be its best in many years with cold winter-like temperatures likely to stick around with moisture-laden fronts, helping us to enjoy every last day of the season, and possibly beyond. However high-levels of moisture act as a double edged sword and have potential to kill off the season with a poorly-timed rain event, reminding us of the fickle nature of the Australian ski season.
Weatherzone's 14 day snow forecast will be available from June 1st here: http://www.weatherzone.com.au/snow/
- Weatherzone
© Weatherzone
2016
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