Very good snow season in Australia

The quality and quantity of spring snow are in the hands of the weather - how cold it stays and whether it snows or rains when the precipitation comes through - but this has been a very good snow season by any measure and the benefits should flow through.

Every ski season is different. Some are frustratingly light for snow cover, some begin with a rush and then fizzle, some tease you with great, wild blizzards dumping snow, only to be ruined by torrential rain, and some bring so much snow you need to dig to find the lodge and lifts.

The standout feature of the 2008 season has been consistent snowfall and consistently low cold temperatures. At Mount Hotham, a record 48 days of below-zero temperatures kept the snow dry and in perfect working order for skiers and snowboarders and even for the snow groomers and the snowsports instructors.

Caribou, Maine, hits a record low overnight

CARIBOU, Maine (AP) Parts of northern Maine hit record lows Friday morning as a hard freeze brought the growing season to an end.