The Australian summer has just ended and right on cue the first snow of the season has fallen.

Perisher Blue in New South Wales got it’s first dusting of snow after the temperature dropped to –3.8°C with wind chill measuring –23.6°C.

Weather forecasters have been predicting a bumper Australian snow season for 2008, with a mild wet summer in many parts of Australia stimulated by the current La Nina conditions, the expectation is for temperatures to remain low with persistent precipitation throughout the winter months.

The Australian snowsports industry is pretty excited at the prospect.

“We have barely had a summer this year,” said Gary Grant, GM Marketing, Sales and Hospitality at Perisher Blue. “It’s felt as though it’s remained cold since the end of the 2007 season, apart from a few warm days, there air has always had a nip in it.”

The resort is installing $9.75m AUD of snowmaking equipment for the new season.

More details and webcams (many still shut for the summer though) at www.perisherblue.com.au