“That doesn’t mean there won’t be snow, there could well be a weather system that dumps a lot just before the school holidays, and that’s what people end up remembering.” However, Noll said South Canterbury’s long range outlook leading to the end of July was for average to above-average temperatures, and average to below-average rainfall. “That’s not to say there won’t be cold snaps, but they’re likely to be short-lived,” he said. Skifield operators spoken to by Stuff were largely optimistic about the coming season. George Empson/Supplied George Empson's image, from Wednesday, of the first 2021 snow in the Mackenzie.