Blanket of snow

Queenstown was lashed by torrential rain on Thursday night, but the upside was a blanket of snow on Wakatipu peaks yesterday.

Kate Cronin, Jordi Elvidge, Amanda Grayson and Hamish Munro, all residing in Queenstown, are pictured making a new friend at Coronet Peak yesterday afternoon. Queenstown meteorologist David Crow expects ''fine, frosty weather for several days over southern districts''.

NZSki announced yesterday the southerly delivered 9cm of snow to the Coronet Peak base building on Thursday night with 10cm to 15cm of windblown snow at the top.

Temperature permitting, Coronet Peak's 213 snow guns can blast into action for the first time this year any time from May 18.

Coronet Peak is scheduled to open for the 2013 season on June 8 and the Remarkables on June 22.