Over before it began: Early end to snow season with hotteset winter on record
Warmer temperatures and less snowfall have forced an early end to the snow season, impacting businesses and local communities.
The 2026 snow season is shutting down early across the Australian Alps, with resort closures, businesses up for sale, and severe lack of snow.
The snow season typically peaks in August and runs through late-September to October, but higher temperatures and significant rain events have greatly reduced snow cover, bringing an unusually early end to the season.
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Mt Baw Baw (VIC) and Selwyn Snow Resort (NSW) both closed for the season last week. Selwyn cited a “challenging winter”, temperature, and rain’s “impact on our remaining snow cover” as the reasons for closure.
Mia ‘Miff’ Rennie, POW Athlete Alliance, Freeskier and Sports Commentator, notes the changes at Selwyn.
“I grew up skiing at Selwyn snowfields and remember having to dig our front doors out at Cabramurra. That’s now a thing of the past. I have seen first hand how quickly our winters are changing and how quickly we need to respond so future generations can continue to experience the magic of winter that I grew up with.”
There is a lot at stake for the Alps as snowpack disappears and seasons shorten. Australia’s resort economy is worth over $3 billion annually, supporting over 12,000 jobs in Victoria alone. The ski resorts made the best of this season through strategic snow placement and snowmaking technology, but businesses big and small across the Alps are feeling the pressure. Mt Hotham’s iconic Hoff Hut closed for the season and is up for sale, with snow cams showing the ski-in, ski-out access bare.
Thredbo Alpine Resort was recently hit with a valuation drop of over 50 percent from $292 million to $143 million. The future economic uncertainty extends beyond the big resorts – alpine communities and small businesses are feeling the impacts of climate change and the hurt of shortened seasons. This season highlights the urgent need for government support and climate action to ensure alpine industries and regional economies can adapt to and survive a changing climate.
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Jackson Harvey, POW Athlete Alliance Member, Moguls Skier and 2026 Olympian, acknowledges the hard working ski industry and decreased training opportunities in Australia. “The entire ski industry has worked exceptionally hard to give us as many skiable days as possible, and we’re really lucky to have that support. That made a huge difference this season. Our national teams were able to train on world class snow facilities, but only for a very short time compared to a typical domestic season, which forces athletes to make challenging adjustments to seek other training opportunities.
“Our alpine communities are relying on us all to get our act together and make meaningful decisions that put our climate first.”
2026 marks the fourth poor snow season since 2020, with record-breaking July temperatures across the Alps and precipitation falling as rain rather than snow. While coal, oil, and gas are melting our alpine future, the Albanese government has approved 36 new or expanded coal, oil, and gas projects since 2022 (Climate Council). The government must stop approving fossil fuel development projects and transition away from fossil fuels to protect the cultural, social, economic and environmental importance of our alpine regions.
Snow cover has already decreased by 30 percent since the mid 1950s, and the ski season length has reduced by 17 to 28 percent across most alpine resorts (POW’s ‘Our Changing Snowscapes’ Report). Australia is on track for a further 44 to 55 day reduction in the ski season by 2050.
Dr Andrew Watkins, POW Science Alliance Member, Adjunct Professor at Monash and National Climate Risk Assessment Lead Author, notes the generational snowpack changes and need to protect alpine regions. “A metre of snow used to mean the season was just getting started, now a metre of snow is my daughter’s idea of a great season. Big changes in a generation. There are many communities that rely upon the high country for their livelihoods. It’s so important for a huge number of Australians that we protect this amazing place.”
