Snow arrives at NSW ski resorts

Snow has finally fallen on the NSW Snowy Mountains, much to the relief of local tourism operators.

About 20 centimetres fell above 1,500 metres over the weekend, blanketing the upper slopes at Perisher and Thredbo, leading Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Sean Carson to state "the higher slopes finally have a base to start working with."

Mount Ginini and Mount Gingera in the ACT's Namadgi National Park also received a dusting, and Carson said snow was clearly visible on the Brindabella Mountains outside Canberra on Sunday.

Kerry Coomber, manager of the Snowy Region Visitor Centre, told 666 ABC Canberra that the region's ski resorts have finally switched on their snow machines.

Comber stated "we had lovely falls up at Perisher over the weekend ... 15 cm fell up there and they're very happy. They've opened some of their lifts."

The bureau predicts there is more snow on the way for the ski resorts, with Carson adding "there's a little bit more follow-up snow for the Snowy Mountains, probably about 5 cm to add to the handy 20 cm base they picked up on the weekend."

The snowfall marks a late start to the ski season, which typically begins on the Queen's Birthday long weekend.

It comes after one of the east coast's warmest autumns in more than 40 years.

Coomber said the lack of snow has meant tourists have so far shied away from the Snowy Mountains, adding "it's very quiet here at the moment.

"A lot of people are waiting off to buy their lift tickets or to get up here until there's some decent falls."

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