The Snowy Mountains do not run on one calendar. Snow settles for around six months, the huts and high plains open up in summer, and the temperature range between July and January is wide enough to feel like two different places. Here is what the Snowy Mountains events and seasons look like across the year.
This page follows the seasons: the climate figures, when the snow comes and goes, and the seasonal highlights that define each part of the year. For a wider picture, see our Snowy Mountains destination guide.
The Snowy Mountains year at a glance
The Snowies are the tallest range on mainland Australia and part of the Great Dividing Range. They hold the country's five tallest peaks, all above 2,100 m, with Mount Kosciuszko the highest at 2,228 m. That height is why the climate is alpine, which is unusual on the mainland.
Large natural snowfalls arrive for several months of the year. Significant accumulation builds from May to October, and the cover usually melts by November, although it can occasionally persist through high summer and into the next autumn. Generally only areas above 1,400 m carry a consistent heavy winter snowpack. Snow normally falls to around 600 m in most winters.
Monthly climate figures
These are the 1991-2020 averages for the Snowy Mountains area. Rain days are spread fairly evenly through the year, so plan for changeable weather in any month.
| Month | Max (°C) | Min (°C) | Rain (mm) | Rain days | Sunny days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18.9 | 7.5 | 87.1 | 10.7 | 29.4 |
| February | 17.9 | 7.1 | 86.6 | 10.1 | 26.3 |
| March | 15.2 | 4.9 | 66.5 | 8.4 | 28.8 |
| April | 11.0 | 1.7 | 58.0 | 8.2 | 27.0 |
| May | 6.9 | -1.0 | 65.3 | 9.3 | 25.7 |
| June | 3.6 | -2.8 | 99.2 | 11.5 | 20.9 |
| July | 2.4 | -4.1 | 94.3 | 12.5 | 24.0 |
| August | 3.4 | -4.2 | 110.0 | 13.3 | 25.8 |
| September | 7.0 | -2.2 | 106.8 | 12.6 | 26.9 |
| October | 10.7 | 0.0 | 109.8 | 12.9 | 28.8 |
| November | 13.7 | 2.8 | 117.9 | 13.2 | 28.1 |
| December | 16.2 | 5.0 | 102.1 | 11.9 | 28.8 |
Winter: the ski season
June to August are the coldest months. July averages a maximum of 2.4°C and a minimum of -4.1°C, and August is the wettest of the winter months at 110 mm over about 13 days. Australia's lowest recorded temperature, -23.0°C, was measured at Charlotte Pass on 28 June 1994.
All four of New South Wales' snow resorts sit in this region, which makes it one of the centres of the Australian ski industry. Thredbo and Perisher are the two big names for winter snow.
Thredbo
Thredbo has 14 ski lifts. It holds Australia's longest resort run, 5.9 km from Karel's T-Bar to Friday Flat, the greatest vertical drop at 672 m, and the highest lifted point in the country at 2,037 m.
Perisher and Charlotte Pass
Perisher had 48 lifts covering 1,245 hectares in 2022, across four village base areas: Perisher Valley, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega. The Swiss-designed Skitube railway, opened in 1987, carries skiers from Bullocks Flat on the Alpine Way to Perisher Valley and Blue Cow. Charlotte Pass has the highest village base of any Australian ski resort, at 1,760 m, and in winter it can only be reached by over-snow transport.
Autumn and spring: the shoulder seasons
April and May are drier. April has the fewest rain days of the year at 8.2, and March and April both log 27 or more sunny days. By May, overnight temperatures dip below zero and the snow season begins to build.
September and October bring the snow towards its end. Rain climbs to around 107 to 110 mm a month, and maximum temperatures rise from 7.0°C to 10.7°C. November is the wettest month of the year at 117.9 mm, which is also when the snow cover has usually melted.
Summer: walks, fishing and high country
January is the warmest month, averaging 18.9°C by day and 7.5°C at night, with 29 sunny days. Summer is the season for Kosciuszko summit walks and fly-fishing. If you want ideas beyond the snow, our Snowy Mountains activities page is the place to start.
Summer in the High Country has a long history. Large gatherings were once held here for collective feasting on the bogong moth, and stockmen later used the high plains for summer grazing, an era recalled in Banjo Paterson's poem The Man From Snowy River. The cattle graziers left mountain huts across the area, now maintained by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and volunteer groups such as the Kosciuszko Huts Association.
Main Range also holds mainland Australia's five glacial lakes: Blue Lake, Lake Albina, Lake Cootapatamba, Club Lake and Headley Tarn. Blue Lake is the largest and one of the headwaters of the Snowy River.
Planning your trip around the seasons
Jindabyne, on Lake Jindabyne, is a handy base. Discovery Parks - Jindabyne has powered sites and cabins; contact the park for current rates and availability before booking. Browse more options on our Snowy Mountains accommodation page.
If you would rather leave the driving to someone else, the Snowy Mountains private tour over 3 days includes pick up and drop off, from AUD 1575. The region's major roads are the Alpine Way and the Snowy Mountains Highway. Drive times by road are long, so allow for them.
| Route | Distance | Approx. drive |
|---|---|---|
| Snowy Mountains to South Coast | 335 km | 294 minutes |
| Snowy Mountains to Wollongong | 448 km | 342 minutes |
| Snowy Mountains to Sydney | 489 km | 370 minutes |
| Blue Mountains to Snowy Mountains | 536 km | 421 minutes |
For official trip information, Visit NSW is at Visit NSW, and background on the range is on Wikipedia.
Frequently asked questions
When does the snow fall in the Snowy Mountains?
Significant accumulation builds from May to October, and the snow cover usually melts by November. It can occasionally persist through high summer and into the next autumn.
What is the coldest month?
July and August are the coldest. July averages a maximum of 2.4°C and a minimum of -4.1°C, while August averages 3.4°C and -4.2°C.
What is there to do in summer?
Kosciuszko summit walks and fly-fishing are the summer highlights. January averages 18.9°C by day with about 29 sunny days.
