August is one thing of a turning level within the 12 months. For the southern hemisphere, that is peak season when, usually, any early season snowfall niggles ought to have been ironed out and nearly all areas needs to be open, hopefully absolutely open, with base depths reaching their peaks earlier than issues begin to heat as spring arrives in September.
Within the northern hemisphere, in contrast, it’s one of many hottest months of the 12 months, most years, and comes after an usually heat or sizzling June and July, so any centres nonetheless working from the earlier winter could also be fearing the tip is nigh for this 8 or 9-month lengthy season a minimum of. Maybe not the year-round Hintertux and Zermatt glaciers within the Alps, though some years even they’ve been compelled to shut quickly in August – September if it has been too sizzling. However there are normally solely half-a-dozen ski areas open at most within the northern hemisphere this month, a handful of Alpine glaciers, maybe one or two excessive snowfields in Western North America and a glacier in Norway. A few of these don’t make it to the tip of the month both. That mentioned, generally winter arrives early, in August, on the very best slopes within the Alps and it’s common to see respectable dumps up above about 3,000m altitude. These can occur at any time of the 12 months however get extra widespread in late summer season.
The Southern Hemisphere
Australia
August tends to be top-of-the-line months of the season to ski in Australia. As long as it’s a ‘regular’ winter with constantly chilly temperatures, a lot of the nation’s resorts may have constructed up bases from late Could over 10 weeks and needs to be peaking in August earlier than issues begin to wind down in September. Perisher has the most important space and due to this fact normally probably the most terrain open however Thredbo, Selwyn, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek (pictured above and prime in 2023) ought to all be in good condition too in a traditional winter.
New Zealand
Treble Cone 2022
New Zealand also needs to be having fun with its greatest month of the season, a minimum of that’s the case most years. A number of the nation’s resorts, significantly on the North Island, don’t purpose to open for the season till nicely into July, so August is normally the height month for snowfall accumulation earlier than the wind down begins in September as springtime arrives. Anticipate ski areas like Coronet Peak, Cardrona, Turoa, Whakapapa, Treble Cone (pictured above), The Remarkables and Mt Hutt to be absolutely open, though that’s not the case yearly if it has been a poor early season for snowfall, so all the time vital to verify earlier than you journey!
Argentina
Las Lenas
August is the primary month of the season for Argentina too. The nation is house to the most important ski space within the southern hemisphere when it comes to lifts and groomed runs, Cerro Catedral, close to Bariloche, with over 120km (75 miles) of slopes – the one centre south of the equator with greater than 100km. It’s additionally house to one of many world’s greatest ski areas when you simply take a look at the realm boundary and wish countless freeride powder however don’t want too many lifts – that’s Las Lenas down in Patagonia. There are one other dozen or so extra ski areas too.
Chile
CREDIT Ski Portillo and Adam Clark
Chile needs to be in full swing in August earlier than the season begins to wind down there in September. Main resorts like trendy Valle Nevado, not removed from the capital Santiago up an notorious switchback street, and Nevados de Chillan to the south, well-known for its thermal springs, will hope to be absolutely open. Additional north the well-known powder mecca of Portillo may also be wanting to supply deep gentle white snow to take pleasure in for its friends.
Southern Africa
Afriski 11 June 2022
There are ski areas in South Africa and Lesotho . Afriski in Lesotho has a mile lengthy foremost run and freshmen slope and terrain park space open for snow enjoyable on toboggans. Tiffindell in South Africa final opened within the winter of 2019 and was most lately reported to be up on the market.
The Northern Hemisphere
The Alps
August is normally probably the most tough month of the 12 months to discover a ski centre open within the Alps as although July could be hotter, that July warmth leads a number of summer season ski centres to shut that month, so that they’re already closed by the point August arrives. August does although, usually see temperatures beginning to drop and the ‘first snowfalls of the brand new season’ on excessive peaks, forward of extra glacier areas opening for the brand new season in September and October.
However the place are fairly secure bets for August snowboarding and boarding within the Alps?
In Austria, the year-round Hintertux glacier needs to be open.
In Italy, the Passo Stelvio summer season ski centre is open via to the late autumn and you too can take lifts up from Cervinia to ski the glacier space served with Zermatt.
In Switzerland Saas Charge may have opened for its new season in July, usually and year-round Zermatt with Europe’s highest lifts and runs also needs to be open.
The final summer season ski centres open in France are normally closed by the tip of July now although so there’s not normally anyplace open there.
Some years are higher than others and as all the time it is very important verify present circumstances. A poor treasured winter for snowfall then sizzling spring in 2022 led all centres besides Hintertux (which itself had very skinny cowl and restricted terrain open) to shut for a lot of August and September as a consequence of lack of snow.
Scandinavia
Galdhoppigen
In Scandinavia, it positively feels just like the 12 months has turned and autumn is simply across the nook most years at the beginning of August. That’s not far fallacious both as resorts like Levi and Ruka in Finland do begin their seasons, due to snow farming, by early October, so on the finish of August the brand new season begin in Lapland is simply over a month away!
However two ski areas in Norway needs to be open via the month anyway. Fonna goals to remain open to the autumn if snow cowl permits and Galdhopiggen is the situation of Scandinavia’s highest ski lifts and has a ski season from Could to November most years. There are only a few miles of piste at every, however who cares, it’s August! Some years the summer season warmth does trigger it to shut in August and September till issues cool once more, different years although it retains snowing even in August.
North America
There’s normally just one ski space open in North America in August – the Timberline ski resort’s Palmer Snowfield on Mt Hood in Oregon.
Historically this space has stayed open to a public vacation weekend at the beginning of September however latest years have seen closures at varied dates in August because the snow cowl has melted away sooner than it as soon as did, so it’s a case of verify earlier than you journey. Whether it is open it’s basic summer season snowboarding with the slopes skiable between round 6 am and midday.
If it has been a very snowy winter and spring previous there’s an outdoor probability one other space will make it into August, Mammoth Mountain has carried out so 3 times prior to now, together with 2017 and 2023 (pictured above in Summer time 2023).
The top of August normally marks a month till snowmaking begins once more on the continent’s highest slopes in Colorado, the primary of which hope to open for the brand new season early in October if circumstances are proper. So anticipation will already be constructing within the latter half of August!
Indoor and Dry Slopes
SnowWorld Landgraaf, The Netherlands
Don’t neglect the world is now house to a whole bunch of indoor snow and dry ski slopes open 12 months spherical too.
There are literally extra indoor snow centres (150+ in 30+ international locations on 6 continents) open in August now than the out of doors ones (100 or so in 10 international locations on 4 continents) listed above.
We now have a daily Podcast known as The White Out the place we evaluation the newest gear, discuss concerning the newest snow forecast and updates on the place is greatest to ski now, as nicely interviews with absolute ski legends AND we highlight a resort each week and a lot extra. You’ll be able to try our common podcast right here Apple | Spotify | Podcasts or search The White Out in your chosen podcast listing.
