The upper trails at the Remarkables had a base of up to 35cm by yesterday afternoon, largely due to fronts which brought snow on Wednesday and Thursday, while about 8cm had accumulated at the base of the ski area.
Snow also fell on the Crown Range Rd, where motorists were advised to carry chains yesterday.
And Cardrona Alpine Resort was preparing to open today ahead of the wintry blast.
About 15cm-20cm of fresh snow fell on the slopes on Thursday night and 25 snow guns were making snow all day yesterday. A resort spokesman said the McDougall's chondola would be operating for sightseeing from 10am and there would be free tobogganing for children.
Back over the hill, Remarkables ski area manager Ross Lawrence said the fronts also dropped temperatures enough to crank up all 110 of the ski area's snow guns on Thursday - they had since been "maxed out as much as we could push" ahead of the mountain's scheduled opening next Saturday.
"In the morning there wasn't any snow and by the afternoon there was a blanket.
The forecast was for more snow today before it "warms up a little bit" tomorrow.
Temperatures are expected to drop again next week and there is another snowfall predicted on Tuesday afternoon, before the weather clears.
Snow guns were turned on across the valley at Coronet Peak, where they would be pumping until tomorrow morning.
Coronet Peak operations manager Mark Sommerville said 6cm of snow fell overnight on Thursday and there was snow-making on the upper half of the mountain yesterday.
"We're pretty confident that with that much snow-making we'll get ourselves open [on time]."
Coronet is scheduled to open on June 15 and the new $20million chairlift would be operational on opening day.
The high-speed, six-seater chairlift, which follows the line of the original, is expected to be handed over to NZSki next week for use.
Treblecone is due to open on June 28.
