By John Kidman

A MAJOR snow dump is on the way to rescue an early Australian ski season mired in the doldrums.

A metre of the white stuff is expected to fall across the NSW and Victorian high country over the next fortnight.

While Australia’s biggest resort, Perisher, managed just to open its most popular run for last weekend’s start to the season, rival operation Thredbo has had to bide its time.

However limited falls last Tuesday and overnight lows enabling the resort’s snowguns to be fired up should see things turn around shortly.

Perisher’s V8 and Quad Express chairs are spinning and two additional t-bars began operating on Saturday.

The arrival of better conditions is expected to happen in stages, with at least 25cm of snow in NSW likely over the next week and most of the action towards the end of the month.

Veteran forecaster Pete “The Frog” Taylor said a cold front which arrived early on Sunday delivered a dusting of snow to NSW resorts with conditions expected to ease overnight.

“Snowfalls then develop again on Monday as a new stronger front moves through,” he said.

“At the moment it’s looking like around 20-40cm over the two days.

“Monday the groomers will be out in force trying to prepare new runs to open and resort operations and patrols will be out marking obstacles and doing safety checks before anything can open.”

Mid next week is shaping as a good time for enthusiasts to make their move.

“Light snow across the 21st-23rd and then snow around the 27th-28th,” Mr Taylor said.

“I’m also liking one due around the 30th that could possibly – fingers and toes crossed – dump across the 30th and 1st of July.”

A similar theme is at play in Victoria with 80-90cm of snow expected over the next fortnight.

Mt Buller resort woke to 14cm of fresh snow and a crisp chill in the air on Sunday.

The cold should help artificial snowmaking get underway and more terrain to open for skiing and boarding as soon as conditions permit.

The fresh powder had triggered a strong flow of bookings and inquiries, the resort said.

Closer to sea level, cold fronts are generating strong winds and showers in southern SA, Victoria, Tasmania and southern NSW.

Forecasters say flurries of snow may also be possible on the NSW central tablelands, around Orange and Oberon.