Significant snowfalls have finally coated the Australian high country after a mild, wet, largely snowless June.

Thredbo in New South Wales was reporting 28 centimetres of snow overnight with snowfalls continuing this Friday morning, its near neighbour Perisher reported 25 cm, while Mt Hotham in Victoria reported 22 cm and counting.

Just in time for the school holidays

The timing of this snowy system could hardly have been more perfect for NSW schoolkids and their families, with school holidays starting this weekend.

Victorian schoolkids have already been off school for a week, but at least the second week of the Vic school holidays should see some skiable terrain opening up.

Up until today, mainland Australia’s ski resorts have been able to open only the most basic beginner slopes on thin ribbons of snowmaking snow. By next week, more terrain could open.

While it takes a lot more snow to get the Australian snow season into full swing than the 25 centimetres which fell overnight (plus an additional 10 cm or so which may fall today), every snowflake helps.

Wild winds accompany Friday’s snowfalls 

Image: Combined satellite and radar loop for SE Australia for the eight hours to 8am (AEST) on Friday, July 3, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.

As often happens with midwinter snow-bearing systems, wild winds ushered in the snowy weather, with overnight wind gusts topping 100 km/h in alpine resorts on both side of the border as the cold front moved through.

Severe weather warnings for damaging winds were issued for elevated parts of eastern Vic and southeast NSW early this Friday, although winds should start to ease by lunchtime.

At 8 am this Friday, it was -3.4°C at Thredbo Top Station, with an apparent or "feels like" temperature of -17.5°C due to the wind chill.

Cool days, cold, clear nights to follow

Image: Daily forecast for Perisher on the Weatherzone app.

A string of cold nights in the wake of the current system will be perfect for firing up the snowmaking guns at all resorts.

Ideal snowmaking conditions require not just sub-zero temperatures but low humidity, and that’s on the meteorological menu for southeastern Australia for the next week or so, once this storm clears.

For example, Perisher is forecast to fall to -4°C or colder over the next six nights, with daytime temperatures only climbing a few degrees above zero, which should keep the snow intact.

READ MORE: Snowmaking begins in Australia, but how does it work?

Please check the Weatherzone snow page for the latest forecasts, live cam images and more.