Early opening to Rainbow f ield

month’s worth of rainfall in the first two weeks of June; 60 millimetres had fallen up to June 14, whereas the average for the month was 65mm.

Metservice meteorologist Tui Mcinnes said the ‘‘almostcontinuous barrage of lows and fronts’’ was due to a combination of an atmosphere prone to low pressure, southwesterly polar blasts, and warmer-than-normal waters.

That brought heavy rain, large hail stones, strong gusts, a few tornadoes, and more than 114,000 lightning strikes in the past week.

But snow had been falling for about six days straight at Rainbow Ski Area, in St Arnaud, 100 km west of Blenheim.

As the snow kept coming, the ski resort team had to spend a night in the nearby Mt Robert

lodge last weekend in case of avalanche.

‘‘It has been non-stop for the small team on the field as they try and get the mountain safe and ready for the season,’’ Harry said. ‘‘We still have work to do, compliance items to complete, and staff to assemble.’’

Twelve of the 35 staff for the season were coming from overseas, including seven ski instructors from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, South Africa and Australia.

The international staff were scheduled to arrive a week before the original opening date, which was July 9. The ski field normally manages about 70 days of skiing a season, through to early October, but in 2020 it managed only 18 days due to Covid restrictions. This year they planned to open seven days a week.

Rainbow Ski Club chairman Mark Unwin said it had been a great week for the club with large numbers at the ski sales, and the return of the Club Snow Ball at the Playhouse Theatre, near Nelson.

‘‘Get your ski gear ready for an epic season, but don’t forget your chains as early season conditions will exist on the road.’’