J2Ski Snow Report - August 20th 2026
J2Ski Snow Report - August 20th 2026
Published : 20-Aug-2026 20:04
Snowy (very snowy) mountains in Antillanca, Chile.
The Southern Hemisphere is experiencing strong mid-winter conditions, with Chile now holding the world's deepest snow base at 3.2 m/10 feet at Corralco.
For the first time in over a decade, no outdoor lift-served ski areas are operating in the Northern Hemisphere, as prolonged summer heat has forced closures at all remaining centres including Italy's Passo Stelvio.
The Snow Headlines - August 20th
- Corralco in Chile now has world's deepest base at 3.2 m/10 feet after 90 cm/35 inches more this week.
- Chile's Portillo announces season extension to mid-October.
- Argentina's Las Leñas opens famed La Marte chairlift accessing extreme terrain.
- Australian ski area announces early season end this weekend.
- All northern hemisphere outdoor lift-served snow ski areas closed for first time this century.
- Fresh snowfall dusts high peaks in US Rockies.
- US ski areas start announcing 2026–27 season start dates - from early October.
Snow forecast for New Zealand, South America and high in the Alps.
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World Overview
Across the southern hemisphere, mid-winter conditions remain strong in almost all ski regions, with the end of August bringing the first seasonal closures. Australia is split between the best conditions of the season at the big-name resorts, whilst the first of the smaller lower centres has announced an early 2026 season closure this coming weekend.
Meanwhile, across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand continues its recent superb run, with firm bases, widespread openings and regular top-ups. Argentina currently offers some of the world's best mid-winter skiing, while Chile maintains the planet's current deepest cover after repeated storm cycles.
In Lesotho, Africa, mostly dry, sunny weather is thinning remaining skiable terrain as its short season winds down ahead of concluding this weekend.
Northern Hemisphere ski operations have reached an extraordinary milestone this week: for the first time in over a decade of reporting, no outdoor lift-served ski area is open anywhere. As we warned in our August preview, prolonged heat at high elevation across the Alps has forced the last remaining summer ski centre that had been operating, Italy's Passo Stelvio, to suspend operations until conditions improve.
Lift-served skiing does continue at more than 100 indoor centres in 30 countries, and there are early signs of seasonal change: light new snowfall has appeared at altitude in the Rockies, and several resorts have confirmed snowmaking for the 2026–27 season will begin in just over a month. The first autumn opening dates are now only five weeks away.
Southern Hemisphere
Australia
Aussie ski conditions have swung between blue-sky days with light snowfall and murkier spells of sleet and rain. Higher, larger resorts are holding up well: Perisher is nearing a 1 m/3 feet upper base and has close to 80% of terrain open, among the most skiable terrain anywhere right now.
Thredbo and Falls Creek each have around two-thirds of their slopes operating.
Lower-elevation hills are faring worse, with Mount Baw Baw ending its 2026 season and Mount Buller still below 20% open.
Looking ahead, mostly sunny weather is expected in the days ahead, with mild afternoons and cold nights helping preserve cover. Light rain or sleet may appear at times, and a mid-week colder shift could bring modest snowfall to mid and upper elevations, briefly freshening higher terrain.
New Zealand
New Zealand has enjoyed another good week, with fresh snowfalls, cold nights and plenty of blue-sky days.
Most South Island ski areas are now fully open, giving the country the highest percentage of skiable terrain anywhere. Cardrona has the most after its terrain expansion last season, with all 45 km/28 miles of slopes now open. Mount Hutt continues to report New Zealand's deepest cover at nearly 2 m/6 feet up top and is also fully open.
A mostly settled spell is forecast over the next few days, with clear periods, light winds and freezing nights down to –5 to –9 °C/23 to 16 °F. A stronger front arrives Saturday, bringing widespread snowfall across both islands, with meaningful accumulations expected at mid and upper elevations and lighter falls lower down.
Argentina
Argentina continues to report its best conditions of the season, with some of the deepest snow cover in the world at present, high percentages of terrain open at most resorts and repeated fresh snowfall.
Las Leñas has now opened the legendary Marte chair after major storm totals, unlocking its steepest terrain. The resort is 85% open with the second deepest reported base in the world at 3 m/10 feet. Most Argentine centres are typically operating 60–90% of terrain.
For the coming week, it is a mixed forecast, with sunshine, cloud and further occasional snowfalls.
Chile
Chile has reported a fifth snowy week in a row with up to 90 cm/35 inches of fresh reported since last week.
Corralco now holds the deepest base in the country, and globally, with 320 cm/126 inches up top, overtaking Portillo, which has a 285 cm/112 inches upper depth. After weeks of closure, road access to Portillo has reportedly resumed on the Chilean side, and the resort has extended its season by a fortnight to 11th October.
El Colorado/Farellones leads South America for open terrain, operating over 90% of its slopes, and nearly 50 km/31 miles of runs. With the lift link to Valle Nevado it really has the most in the world.
Sunny, settled weather is forecast to dominate for the next few days and through the weekend, with clear skies, cold nights and firm morning snow. More snowfall is not expected for most areas until mid-next week.
Southern Africa
Lesotho's Afriski heads into what is expected to be its final weekend of the 2026 season, with the resort gearing up for its Winterfest finale of snow activities and live music. After a largely dry, sunny winter, the centre shared images of a light snowfall earlier this week, but daytime temperatures now regularly climb into double-digit positives and overnight freezes are becoming rare, accelerating the thaw. A fairly cold, settled pattern should hold for the final days of the season through to Sunday.
Northern Hemisphere
The northern hemisphere's skiing enters an unprecedented week for all the wrong reasons. Following the earlier closures of Saas-Fee and Zermatt-Cervinia due to extreme high-altitude warmth and unsafe glacier conditions, the final remaining still-open outdoor lift-served centre at Italy's Passo Stelvio has now temporarily shut until conditions improve.
It is thought to be the first time in at least six decades that the northern hemisphere has had no operating outdoor lift-accessed snow-sports area; even during the hot summer of 2022 or the pandemic, at least one glacier stayed open.
All centres say they will reopen as soon as conditions allow, a stance shared by Norway's Galdhøpiggen. For now, summer skiing is limited to indoor snow halls or artificial dry slopes of which there are now hundreds worldwide.
There are brighter notes. Fresh summer snow fell above 4,200 m/13,780 feet in the US Rockies, and American resorts are already eyeing the 2026–27 season. Loveland hopes to begin snowmaking in under 50 days, while Vail Resorts targets an early-October opening at Keystone.
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