Major Australian ski resort Perisher closes some lifts for season ‘ahead of schedule’ due

Perisher ski resort will stop operating lifts at two of its four areas on Sunday afternoon due to a lack of snow, signalling an early end to the season.

The decision to close Blue Cow and Guthega areas came as the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the warmest winter since official records began in 1910, with average daily temperatures 1.53C above the long-term average.

Perisher’s mountain operations director, Michael Fearnside, said the two areas were normally closed earlier due to the “predominantly north-facing orientation of these slopes in sunnier spring conditions”.

“We’re a little ahead of schedule in closing them, however in the past decade we have typically closed them in the second or third week of September in the majority of the last 10 snow seasons,” Fernside said.

“We’re thankful to all of our mountain operations team for their work during this challenging season weather-wise and appreciate all the feedback we’ve had from guests grateful we’ve continued to make and move snow whenever we’re able to – which we will continue to do in the coming weeks…