This time last year, snow not only closed roads and the airport, but several winterfestival events had to be either cancelled or postponed. This year, things are totally different. The blatant lack of snow has put serious strain on nzski.com employee bank accounts, as both of Queenstown's skifields remain closed. Even the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce has refused to comment on how the mountain closures are affecting local businesses. All hopes now remain in the hands of the snow gods, and based on interim weather forecasts, snow seems just around the corner.
Local weatherman David Crow has issued his own weather warning for tomorrow with a change during the early morning to bitterly cold southwesterly winds, fresh to strong for a time, with snow. Blizzard conditions could prevail for a time and the wind chill factor will be very high. Tomorrow could be the coldest day we have had since the very cold spell during the middle of last July with a maximum temperature of just 3 degrees. Freezing level tomorrow will be 300 metres. Fingers crossed!
The snow that is forecast looks set to kick off the 2008 American Express WinterFestival in superb fashion. Everything is falling into place, including The Kawarau Falls Station Pavilion. The request for festival volunteers to help erect the pavilion was a success, and the progress is plainly visible to anyone who drives down Stanley St.
Also making news on the festival front this week was news of some new and exciting performers entering the mix. Late last week it was revealed that Dame Malvina Major would be performing at the American Express Gourmet Experience on Sunday June 29. Another exciting announcement out of Festival headquarters is the inclusion of two special guest performers at the Fluid presents Lucid3 concert.
Apart from the above, last week was rather quiet in Queenstown, and it sure did feel like a typical week experienced during the shoulder season. Despite the quietness, consistency still reigned. Mountain Scene lambasted yet another council orientated activity, being the 2008 Local Government Communication Forum that 'apparently' cost NZ ratepayers $100,000. And the Lakes Weekly Bulletin easily retained the title of Queenstown's least humorous cartoon strip. Who knows, maybe one day it will be funny, and maybe we'll get the snow we need this week.
Nathan - Queenstown.com Editor.
