Snow bunnies should dust off the skis and boards earlier rather than later this year, with better snowfall expected in the first half of the season before a warmer winter threatens to dry up later falls.
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The first half of the season is set to be characterised by cool temperatures and more natural snow before warmer than average conditions sweep through the region thanks to an El Nino.
During El Nino events, high-pressure systems tend to sit over the country, making it harder for clouds to develop and bring rain.
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben McBurney expected the El Nino to influence conditions in the Snowy Mountains from July or August, when cold overnight temperatures set the scene for a good dumping of snow.
"The first month and a half should be all right, we should have some cold fronts coming through, creating average to above-average snowfall," he said.
"With the El Nino, normally more heat builds over the interior than normal, so there could be a quick dry-up of snow.
"I think winter as a whole will probably come in warmer than average; it's certainly possible for July and August."
Mr McBurney predicted close to average snowfall throughout June.
Closer to the capital, he said the month would be characterised by close to average rainfall, maximum temperatures slightly above average, and more cold nights.
Chilling temperatures not only signalled the start of winter but created the perfect conditions for snow on Monday, and also brought a dusting across Queanbeyan, Cooma, Braidwood and Goulburn, where residents awoke to up to five centimetres.
Up to 30 centimetres fell over the Snowy Mountains, with temperatures at Thredbo dropping to minus 8 degrees around 7.30am and the wind chill dropping to a biting minus 17.8 degrees as late as 2.30pm.
Thredbo spokeswoman Susie Diver said a top temperature of minus 7 degrees and winds of up to 30km/h meant any Monday snow was set to stay, signalling a good start to the ski season this weekend.
"We had 30 centimetres of snow blanketing the high areas and about 10 centimetres in the village," she said on Monday.
"What snow does fall up there will stay because it's so cold. There is some snow forecast at the end of the week but I think the most striking thing is the temperature.
"It's great for our snowmaking; any opportunity we can make snow we will."
The warmer conditions expected throughout winter follow a drier than average May.
Only 12 millimetres of rain fell throughout the month compared to a long-term average of 43 millimetres – two millimetres drier than a year earlier.
Mr McBurney said Canberra's May average temperature of 16.3 degrees was a slight 0.7 degrees warmer than the monthly average.
"May was characterised by slightly warmer days and slightly cooler nights," he said.
"While we had some cold fronts coming across [the region], they weren't associated with much moisture.
"The last three Mays have been very dry."
