📷 Whakapapa
Oceania
Whakapapa
Good
→stable
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Last Snowfall
Aug 19
2d agoPast 24 Hours
0cm
Reported by WhakapapaPast 48 Hours
0cm
Past 10 Days
19.8cm
14-Day Forecast
68.4cm
Snow Depth
75cm
Resort reported (website)Powder Days
9
2026 season
Bluebird Days
2
2026 season
Overview
Whakapapa is a ski resort in Oceania, New Zealand. Today's SnowSure™ Score is 41/100 (Good), snow base 75 cm (29.5 in), 20 cm (7.9 in) of snow in the last 7 days. The 14-day ensemble forecast across seven weather models (ECMWF, GFS, GEM, JMA, ICON, Météo-France, Met Norway) calls for ~68 cm (26.8 in) of new snow. Conditions last updated 2026-08-21 15:08 UTC.
Resort Guide
Whakapapa is New Zealand’s largest ski area, located on the northwestern slopes of Mt Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park. The resort features over 550 hectares of skiable terrain, catering to all abilities with wide beginner slopes, intermediate trails, and advanced runs, as well as the renowned Sky Waka gondola offering panoramic views. Whakapapa’s amenities include a modern base area, equipment rentals, ski school, and multiple dining options, making it a versatile destination for families and adventure seekers. Its unique volcanic landscape and extensive facilities distinguish it as a premier ski destination in the Southern Hemisphere.
Gallery
Click to expand • 9 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Whakapapa
Lifts
12
Skiable area
1360 ac
Longest run
4 km / 2.5 mi
Runs by difficulty(67 total)
Beginner
17
25% of terrain
Intermediate
33
50% of terrain
Advanced
17
25% of terrain
Run counts estimated from resort-reported totals and terrain mix.
Lift fleet
- Gondola1
- High-speed quad1
- Quad chair2
- Double chair1
- Surface lift5
Resort Info
Season dates
Future dates are operator estimates and may change.
Ski passes
Powder Alliance
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
Lorenz's Bar & Café – Located at the base of Whakapapa, Lorenz's is renowned for its relaxed alpine atmosphere, hearty après-ski fare, and panoramic views of Mt Ruapehu, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind with drinks and share stories after a day on the slopes.
Major snowfall ahead - 68cm forecast.
Whakapapa is currently experiencing overcast skies with a temperature of -5°C and a snow depth of 75cm. The resort has received 20cm of snow in the past week, contributing to a season total of 77cm, which is 108% of the 5-year average for this time of year.
AI-generated summaryDepth
75cm depth — upper mountain may be better.
Recent
There has been no new snowfall in the past 24 hours, but the area received 20cm in the last week.
Forecast
The 14-day snow outlook predicts an average of 68cm of new snow.
Historic
Season-to-date snow accumulation is 108% of the 5-year average, which is 71cm.
Data updated Fri, Aug 21, 03:08 PM UTC
Snow Summary
Updated Aug 21, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Historical data from Open-Meteo archive • Forecast from ECMWF IFS model
Snowfall Forecast Maps
New Zealand region
Current Conditions
Reported Fri, Aug 21, 03:08 PM UTC
Depth by source
every reading we have- Resort ReportedBase 75cm
- Open-MeteoBase 10cm · Summit 10cm
The headline depth uses the most trusted available source. We show every reading so you can judge for yourself.
Freezing Level
1538m
❄️ Below base - cold & dry snow expected
Base
1630m
Temp
-0.6°C
Wind
8.4km/h
Snow Depth
75cm
Resort reported (website)
Resort 75cm · Model 10cm
14-Day Forecast
4.4cm
Mid-Mountain
1965m
Temp
--°C
Wind
9km/h
Snow Depth
75cm
Resort reported (website)
14-Day Forecast
68.4cm
Summit
2300m
Temp
-4.9°C
Wind
8.4km/h
Snow Depth
75cm
Open-Meteo model
14-Day Forecast
63.3cm
Ops signals
- ●Freezing level below base — snowmaking window open
- ●Fresh snow + cold temps — good grooming window next 48h
Lifts Open
open
Runs Open
open
Live Conditions
Whakapapa Webcams
Whakapapa
Whakapapa
Whakapapa
Whakapapa
Whakapapa
Whakapapa
Local Reports
0 reportsDaily Snowfall Forecast by Model
Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.
SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting
The black line is not a simple average. For Whakapapa (southern alps), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).
- 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
- 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
- 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.
Building verification history for this resort.
How we verify forecasts →Hourly Forecast Detail
AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level
NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 21, 3:08 PM
Sat, Aug 22 -3 / -63.5cm4.9mm | Sun, Aug 23 -1 / -622.5cm32.3mm | Mon, Aug 24 -1 / -61.2cm1.8mm | Tue, Aug 25 -1 / -71.6cm2.3mm | Wed, Aug 26 2 / -42.7cm4mm | Thu, Aug 27 1 / -17.2cm10.2mm | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night |
| Snow (cm) | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 10.9 | 7.3 | 4.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2 |
| Precip (mm) | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 15.6 | 10.5 | 6.2 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 2.8 |
| Temp (°C) | -4 | -3 | -4 | -3 | -2 | -5 | -5 | -2 | -6 | -5 | -2 | -5 | -1 | 1 | -3 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Wind (km/h) | 10 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 11 |
| Gusts (km/h) | 42 | 48 | 44 | 96 | 94 | 75 | 56 | 40 | 48 | 41 | 51 | 39 | 47 | 46 | 40 | 31 | 37 | 35 |
14-Day Snow Forecast by Model
Summit elevation (2300m)
10-Day Forecast
Sat
22
🌧️
-2.9°
-5.9°
2.9cm
13 km/h
Sun
23
❄️
-1°
-5.8°
23cm
25 km/h
Mon
24
❄️
-1.4°
-6.5°
1.8cm
15 km/h
Tue
25
🌧️
-1.4°
-6.7°
1.7cm
19 km/h
Wed
26
🌧️
1.5°
-4.4°
15 km/h
Thu
27
🌧️
0.7°
-1.5°
7.9cm
16 km/h
Fri
28
🌧️
-0.5°
-1.8°
5.1cm
21 km/h
Sat
29
❄️
-0.3°
-2.2°
4.4cm
21 km/h
Sun
30
❄️
-1°
-4.5°
4.8cm
15 km/h
Mon
31
☁️
0.6°
-4.9°
0.2cm
11 km/h
Summit elevation (2300m) • ECMWF model
Season vs Historic
Updated Fri, Aug 21, 03:08 PM UTC
77cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
+8%
vs 5-Year Avg
71cm avg by now
+97%
vs 30-Year Avg
39cm avg by now
71cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
This season is at 77 cm to date. The last completed season totaled ~76.7 cm. That's 8% above the 5-year average (71 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 97% above the 30-year average (39 cm).
Whakapapa Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 67cm with an average of 33 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 31 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 8.9cm | 5 days | 1cm | 7cm | 4.8cm |
| July | 16.3cm | 8 days | 1cm | 6cm | 6cm |
| August | 17.6cm | 8 days | 1cm | 8cm | 5.8cm |
| September | 15.8cm | 6 days | 0cm | 5cm | 5.7cm |
| October | 7.1cm | 4 days | 0cm | 3cm | 3.9cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
Season at a Glance
Current season(2026)
Opened May 30, 2026
Scheduled close: Oct 26, 2026
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
ENSO seasonal analog
History · not a forecastIn 5 past El Niño winters at Whakapapa, ERA5 season snowfall median was 42 cm (17 in), about 3% above this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.
Prevailing ONI
El Niño
MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C
Analog season median
42 cm
5 El Niño winters · 3% above median
All-season median
41 cm
Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026)
| Phase | Seasons | Median | p25–p75 | Recent analogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Niñocurrent | 5 | 42 cm | 26 cm – 45 cm | 2023, 2015, 2009, 2002, 1997 |
| La Niña | 4 | 18 cm | 7 cm – 51 cm | 2022, 2010, 1999, 1998 |
| ENSO-neutral | 21 | 42 cm | 23 cm – 127 cm | 2025, 2024, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 |
Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.
Best Months to Visit
August
Peak Season
July
Peak Season
September
Good
June
Good
Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Whakapapa
- Where is Whakapapa?
- Whakapapa is a ski resort in New Zealand.
- How high is Whakapapa?
- Whakapapa runs from a base elevation of 1,630 m (5,348 ft) to a summit of 2,300 m (7,546 ft), giving a vertical drop of 670 m (2,198 ft).
- How big is Whakapapa?
- Whakapapa has 1,360 acres (550 hectares) of skiable terrain, 67 marked runs and 12 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Whakapapa?
- Whakapapa is on the Powder Alliance. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- When is ski season at Whakapapa?
- Whakapapa typically operates from July to October. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Whakapapa get in a typical season?
- Whakapapa averages 68 inches / 173 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
