Mt Hutt Ski Area received 83cm of snow by 6am today, with drifts up to 2m in places.
Manager James McKenzie said the snowfall was a ‘‘big game changer for the season’’.
Only 30cm of natural snow had fallen so far this ski season before this week’s snowstorm.
‘‘This is like a gift from the gods,’’ McKenzie said.
The ski area was closed for two days while the storm was under way, but opened today.
Only the lower carpet lifts and Nor’west Express were open at 9am, while other lifts were to open in stages. Patrol teams were carrying out avalanche control work this morning in an effort to open more terrain.
McKenzie said Friday, Saturday and Sunday would be Car Pool Priority Days as the ski area would be busy. Snow fell to about 300m elevation in Mid Canterbury on Tuesday and Wednesday, settling on the ground in Methven and the foothills.
