The snow depth has tripled on the Australian Alps in the last three weeks with an amazing weekend forecast for the slopes. Skiers and boarders were frustrated by a lack of healthy snowfalls just three weeks ago when there was about a third of the current depth. To make matters seem worse, temperatures soared to unseasonable eight degrees at Thredbo Top Station, leading to some melting. Less than three weeks later and everything has changed. On Tuesday this week, a snow depth of 170cm was recorded at Spencers Creek; a dramatic rise of 112cm since August 1st. Since Tuesday, temperatures have stayed below freezing on the Alps with further light falls. In the 24 hours to Friday morning the major resorts have reported 17-24cm of fresh snow. Another similar fall is likely in the next 24 hours before winds ease and snow clears on Saturday morning. At Spencers Creek a snow depth of around 2 metres is likely for the start of the near-perfect weekend on the slopes. If you love to hit the slopes, don't miss this weekend. Winds will drop back to moderate on Saturday and Sunday with heaps of fresh powder. Over the weekend and into next week snow making conditions will be fairly good as well, with temperatures expected to drop below freezing on most or all nights this week. This season has followed a very similar trend to 2010 when a series of strong fronts arrived during August to provide a peak of almost 2 metres in the last week of the month. For those hoping for further good falls, it seems the time for strong cold fronts is over. High pressure systems amongst a warming airmass should only be disrupted by weak fronts or lows in the next two weeks. Make sure you head up the mountains soon before the snow turns to slush and melts away for another year.