Ruapehu
New Zealand
Whakapapa (Mt Ruapehu)
Natural snow at mid-mountain (1,965 m) is reliably skiable from 1 Jul to 15 Oct. At the peak of the season the village at 1,630 m is unreliable (52% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 98 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Whakapapa (Mt Ruapehu) has changed
Days each winter (May to October) with 30 cm or more of natural snow, every winter since 1950. The lines are the averages for 1961 to 1990 and 1995 to 2024.
Village, 1,630 m
34 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 1,965 m
13 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Modelled from ERA5 weather (Copernicus Climate Change Service), one consistent record for every winter. Checked against measured snow, this model got the direction of change right at 18 of 19 Swiss weather stations and 22 of 25 US snow stations, but overstated its size: a typical loss of 26 days against 17 measured in Switzerland, and 12 against 6 in the US. Read the changes as upper estimates. See the measurements · All 104 resorts since 1950
Month by month
April
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
May
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 10% of days.
June
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 62% of days, typically 42 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 171 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
July
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,965 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 96% of days, with a typical depth of 104 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 13%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 208 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
August
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,965 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 162 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 206 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
September
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,965 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 184 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 205 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
October
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (1,965 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 90% of days, with a typical depth of 146 cm. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 161 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
November
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 44% of days.
December to March
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Whakapapa (Mt Ruapehu)?
For natural snow, 1 Jul to 15 Oct. In that window mid-mountain (1,965 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across thirty winters. September is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Whakapapa (Mt Ruapehu) in June?
In June, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 62% of days over thirty winters, typically 42 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Whakapapa (Mt Ruapehu)?
At its most reliable, in September, the village at 1,630 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 34% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is Whakapapa (Mt Ruapehu)?
The modelled village is at 1,630 m, mid-mountain at 1,965 m and the summit at 2,300 m. The ski area itself spans 1,573 m to 2,299 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Whakapapa (Mt Ruapehu)?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 87 and 210 days per season, with a typical winter around 158. Thirty winters show how much one season can differ from the next. For how snow has changed since 1950, see the long record below.
What is the nearest airport to Whakapapa (Mt Ruapehu)?
Taupo (TUO) is about 71 km away in a straight line. Wanganui (WAG) is 93 km away. Road distances are longer.