Perisher Ski Resort will halt its lift operations at two of its four areas on Sunday afternoon due to insufficient snow, marking an early conclusion to the season.

The decision to close the Blue Cow and Guthega areas coincided with the Bureau of Meteorology's confirmation of the warmest winter on record since official records began in 1910, with daily temperatures averaging 1.53°C above the long-term average.

Perisher's mountain operations director, Michael Fearnside, explained that the two areas typically closed earlier due to their predominantly north-facing orientation, which exposes them to sunnier spring conditions. Fearnside noted, "We're closing them a bit earlier than usual this year, but in the past decade, we've typically shut them down in the second or third week of September during most of the last ten snow seasons."

Despite the challenging weather conditions, Perisher's mountain operations team received appreciation from guests for their efforts in making and moving snow whenever possible, a practice they plan to continue in the upcoming weeks. In a prior statement, a Perisher spokesperson stated that "lift operations in both Blue Cow and Guthega are expected to cease for 2023 from Monday, 4 September. The last day of operations in Blue Cow and Guthega will be Sunday, 3 September."

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Some users on ski forums noted that this early closure was unusual for Perisher, aside from the pandemic-related closures.

Perisher is not the only resort facing lower-than-usual snowfall; Thredbo had to suspend its operations during the King's holiday long weekend in June due to a lack of snow. Additionally, Mt Baw Baw in Victoria and Selwyn Snow Resort in New South Wales will also cease skiing and snowboarding from Monday.

Traditionally, the Australian snow season extends until the first weekend of October. However, peak snow depth has been decreasing in recent decades, resulting in shorter seasons as the climate warms.

In July, temperatures in the Australian Alps, which include resorts like Thredbo, Perisher, and Mount Hotham, were approximately 2°C warmer than usual, accompanied by only about half the typical precipitation. The decline in snow depth towards the end of the season is attributed to anthropogenic climate change, rather than changes in precipitation, according to climate expert Prof. Neville Nicholls from Monash University.

A UN climate report from last year indicated a 5% reduction in the snow season and a 10% decline in snow depth at Spencers Creek in NSW, with several other locations experiencing similar long-term declines in snow depth.

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