The weather at Wanaka skifields was more like mid-winter yesterday, with blizzard-like conditions from a spring snowstorm testing skiers and boarders.
A southerly change on Saturday night brought plunging temperatures and snowfalls to about 1000m across the region.
However, the snowstorm was not enough to keep Coronet Peak open for the skifield's final day of the season, after a power outage yesterday morning disrupted operations and forced an even earlier closure than expected.
The Remarkables Ski Area is the only skifield open for business in the Queenstown area. It received 10cm of snow and has a 100cm base.
Cardrona Alpine Resort general manager Duncan Veall said there was plenty of skiing left on the mountain this season.
Cardrona is the last skifield scheduled to shut in the Lakes district and will stay open until October 12.
Fresh snow showers fell throughout yesterday at Cardrona.
About 20cm of fresh snow fell at Treble Cone yesterday, but high winds and zero visibility closed the mountain and forced the postponement of the skifield's final Village Race Series.
Treble Cone Racing Academy director Gunther Birgmann said a decision would be made midweek about whether the final race of the local series would be rescheduled.
Pisa Range twin skifield operations Snow Park and Snow Farm were closed yesterday due to inclement weather conditions.
• Skifield closing dates
Cardrona: October 12
Treble Cone: October 5
Snow Park NZ: October 5
Snow Farm: October 5
The Remarkables: October 5
Coronet Peak: Closed
