Alpine regions have received little in the way of snow since a strong cold front brought good falls in time for the official opening of the ski season earlier this month.

While some snow showers may arrive over the next day or so, falls may be restricted to about 2cm and reach only down to 1600-1800 metres, according to Anthony Duke, a meteorologist for Weatherzone.

"From late Thursday and over the weekend we've got a high pressure building for probably around a week," Mr Duke said. "The next chance of snow isn't until later next week."

Perisher, Thredbo

Of the resorts, Perisher appears to be among the best placed with 18 of its 48 lifts operating, according to resort management. Some 20 of the site's 133 runs are open, the Ski.com.au website reports.

If the skies haven't been helpful, overnight conditions have at least been favourable for snow making, with sub-zero temperatures and light winds.

"The coming days look good for snowmaking with temperatures predicted to get down to -4 degrees," said Richard Phillips, Perisher's sales and marketing manager. "Perisher will be making snow across Blue Cow Perisher and Smiggin Holes at every opportunity to improve the snow cover for the upcoming school holidays."

As many as 200 snow guns have been operating overnight at the resort, he said.

Thredbo is similarly placed, with nine of 57 runs open on Wednesday, and eight of its 14 lifts operating. Earlier this week, at least one skier took to social media site Twitter to appeal for more of the white stuff.

Victoria lags

NSW resorts, though, are faring much better than their Victorian counterparts.

Mt Baw Baw, for instance, has four of its seven lifts operating but none of the 16 runs are open, according to Ski.com.au.

Falls Creek has just three of its 77 runs open and Mt Hotham has 5 of 65, the website said.

On Mt Buller, there are two runs open of 41 - Bourke Street and Little Buller Spur - with a lot of snow base remaining from falls earlier this month, said Kate Monahan, a media officer at the Mount Buller, Mt Sterling resort management.

"They're definitely good runs," Ms Monahan said, adding that the snowmaking "would give people lots of skiing opportunities" during the holidays.

Rare lack of snow

If the current forecasts are accurate, there may be no snow at Spencers Creek - near the base of Perisher - come the start of July, a relatively rare event.

The region - which has some of the most accurate snowfall readings in Australia because of its location near the Snowy Hydro scheme - has had snow recorded there every July 1 since 1958, according to Blair Trewin, senior climatologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.

A lack of snow at the start of July doesn't preclude deep falls later in the season. In 1957, for instance, an absence of snow on July 1 was followed up by 71cm at the next reading on July 12, Dr Trewin said.

One influence on the snowfalls is the El Nino weather pattern in the Pacific, which tends to produce poor snow seasons in Australia. The influence, though, is reversed in New Zealand, where El Nino winters are typically snowy, he said.

Temperatures on the South Island have been below -20 degrees this week, with heavy snow falls in some regions.

Weatherzone is owned by Fairfax Media, publisher of this website.