Avalanches Wreak Havoc, Forcing New Zealand Ski Resort To Temporarily Close

New Zealand’s ski season has been fairly lackluster in terms of snowfall, but that changed this week as a strong storm dumped snow on the island nation’s peaks.

Treble Cone, known for being one of the largest ski resorts in New Zealand, is reporting 23 inches (60cm) of new snow in the last 24 hours and 31 inches (80cm) over the last seven days.

Nearly three feet of snow should be a boon for skiers and snowboarders, but Mother Nature has a fickle way about her. The storm turned warm towards the end, dumping rain on top of heavy, wet snow.

“Overnight, we had heavy rain across the mountain, on top of an already heavy snowpack. This has created a complex avalanche situation,” wrote Treble Cone in a social media post on Friday, August 28, 2026. “Patrol has been working hard today, including helicopter avalanche control, and will continue this work tomorrow. Access to the mountain has also been challenging, with several large landslides blocking the road.”

Treble Cone confirmed that it would be closed on Saturday, August 29, 2026, due to numerous avalanches triggered by the heavy rainfall. The resort’s access road is also blocked by debris.

Treble Cone has not stated when they intend to reopen and has asked guests to be patient as they recover from the storm.

“The reality is that it will take some time to safely clear the road and manage the avalanche risk before we can reopen,” writes Treble Cone. “We’re looking forward to welcoming you all back up the maunga as soon as we possibly can. We’ll keep you updated.”

Ski resorts across New Zealand were hit with heavy snow this week, but most have skirted the avalanche problems Treble Cone is currently experiencing. Here are the deepest seven-day snowfall totals across New Zealand’s ski resorts and areas.

New Zealand Ski Resort Snow Report, Seven-Day Snowfall Totals

• Treble Cone: 31 inches (80cm)
• Cardrona: 30 inches (76cm)
• The Remarkables: 20 inches (52cm)
• Mt. Hutt: 14 inches (35cm)
• Coronet Peak: 10 inches (25cm)
• Tūroa Ski Area: 7 inches (17cm)

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