About The Victorian Snow Reporting Service

The Victorian Snow Reporting Service (VSRS) provides up to date and timely reports, based on information provided by on mountain ski patrol, and delivers it to the ski and tourism industries, media, ski and snow outlets as well as the general public.

The delivery of the information is through radio reports, The Official Victorian Snow Report via email to a wide variety of recipients, 190 audio Mountain Information Line, 190 Mountain Fax Back Service, and website with links to resort, weather and alpine information sites.

The Victorian Snow Reporting Service was established in 1989 and was initially based in Bright, North East Victoria. The aim of the service was to streamline snow reporting across the Victorian resorts and to simplify the reports to the media and the public.

The service is now managed between Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Falls Creek on a yearly rotation basis and the full time reporter moves between all ten resorts throughout the snow season.

The VSRS offers a unique service. There is no other service of its kind in Australia. It�s main outputs are The Official Victorian Snow Report and radio reports, which include snow, road and weather information from all ten Victorian resorts for the ski industry, media and general public.

If you are currently not on our subscription list and would like to subscribe to receive the Official Victorian Snow Report, go to the homepage to register. . This is a free service.

Snow Depth Measuring

Natural snow depths
The measuring of natural snow depths is done at up to four gauge locations (snow plots) at the resorts. From these locations an average overall depth is ascertained as well as an average 24hr snowfall.

The snow plots have a wooden permanent gauge (200cm high) fixed to a post. The depth of the snow pack is measured from the ground up. There is also a 24hr gauge, which is made of steel and is 50cm high with a base plate. This gauge sits on top of the snow and is cleaned off and re-placed every day, when it snows, at 5:30 am. The snow depth and 24hr snowfall are therefore an average taken from the plots.

Snowmaking depths
The average depth in snowmaking areas is calculated from depths taken from probing the areas where snowmaking occurs. Probing is done in two or three spots across a run and then roughly every 20m down the run. Since probing is time consuming and usually takes two people to complete it is done about once a week during the season.

Definition of Terms for Snow Cover

Excellent - Complete snow cover with no exposed hazards.
Very Good - Complete cover of snow with occasional exposed hazards that do not impede skiing.
Good Almost complete cover. Some exposed hazards that rarely impede skiing.
Fair Cover is extensive but not complete. There may be moderately sized exposed hazards including grass/vegetation, which are easily avoidable. Cover will most likely be soft and thin in areas.
Poor Cover is broken and skiers are very limited in choice of lines. There may be exposed grass areas if the run is open. Cover is soft and thin; snow will most likely be brown in places.
Insufficient/Sightseeing Insufficient cover for skiing and boarding. Only suitable for snowplay if the run is accessible. May involve a short walk from car park area.
No Snow no snow

Definition of Terms for Snow Conditions

Fresh - Fresh snow newly fallen. Ranges from very heavy and wet, to very light and dry.
Dry - Light, fluffy snow. Powder-like.
Powder - Extremely light, dry, fluffy snow, providing no support to skis and snowboards.
Soft - Yielding to pressure from skis and snowboards. Snow could be sun-affected.
Packed - Fresh, packed snow.
Firm - Hard packed snow where the skis do not dig in much but the edges hold well.
Firm or hard packed - In the transition stage to icy. Sharp edges help.
Icy - Clear and very hard. (May also include granular icy cover especially when describing the manmade snow after a night with a good freeze).
Softening - Transition from firm to soft snow.
Wet - Wet snow that is often heavy and grabs at the skis making them slide more slowly.
Spring - Rough, icy, granular surface in the morning, then softens due to warm weather by mid-morning to soft and granular. (Depending on how warm, may become sticky and very soft during the afternoon, then icing up again in the late afternoon. Can be very good skiing in the late morning and early afternoon).

Contact Info for The Victorian Snow Reporting Service

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Mountain Information Line

For 24-hour snow, road and weather reports:
DIAL: 1902 240 523 (55c per min incl. GST)
FAXBACK SERVICE: 1902 241 531 ($1.05 per min incl. GST)