The 2011 ski season officially got underway on Saturday, 11 June
2011. Weather conditions were almost perfect, with crystal
clear blue skies, chiefly light winds and cool temperatures.
As skiers flocked to the slopes for the opening weekend it wasn't
only the weather that had them smiling, Right on cue, Mother
Nature turned the grassy slopes into a winter wonderland, as up to
30cm of snow blanketed the resorts just a few days before the
official opening. Freezing o/night temperatures (dropping to
-8°C at Charlotte Pass and -7°C
at Perisher) allowed resort operators to add to the natural falls
with snow making. Enough snow was made at Thredbo in the week
before the official opening to fill the Sydney Cricket Ground with
snow to a depth of 3 metres (I'd love to see that!).
The great start to the season follows heavy snow falls earlier in
the year. Between May 11 and 12, Spencers Creek (between
Perisher and Charlotte Pass) received 23cm of snow, 3 Mile Dam
(Selwyn Snowfields) 24.9cm and Deep Creek (SW of Cabramurra) 23.2cm.
The 2011 ski season ends on the October long weekend. It's too
early to accurately predict how much snow will fall this
winter, but with the demise of the La Nina weather phenomenon over
autumn, and forecasts of at least average precipitation during July and August,
things are looking positive. Lets also hope there is at least
one substantial snow fall in Gungahlin before the winters
over!
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Photos
(courtesy of www.ski.com.au) from Selwyn
Snowfields, Perisher Valley and Thredbo on the
opening weekend of the 2010, 2009 and 2008 ski seasons. |
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2011 |
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Selwyn
Snowfields - 11 June 2011 |
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Perisher Valley
- 11 June 2011 |
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Crackenback -
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June 2011 |
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2010 |
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Selwyn
Snowfields - 12 June 2010 |
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Perisher Valley
- 12 June 2010 |
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Crackenback -
12
June 2010 |
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2009 |
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Selwyn
Snowfields - 8 June 2009 |
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Perisher Valley
- 9 June 2009 |
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Crackenback - 8
June 2009 |
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2008 |
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Selwyn
Snowfields - 7 June 2008 |
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Perisher Valley
- 7 June 2008 |
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Crackenback - 7
June 2008 |
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Sources:
Gungahlin Weather Centre.
Images from
ski.com.au
