The 68-year-old from South Australia was skiing with friends when the incident happened about 10.15am on Saturday.

NSW Police said the man could not be revived and he died at the scene.

Officers from the Monaro district will investigate the incident and prepare a report for the coroner.

Thredbo received 15 centimetres of fresh snow overnight heading into Saturday, with temperatures at the ski fields plunging to minus 8 degrees Celsius.

Thredbo Resort general manager Stuart Diver said the Thredbo community was deeply saddened by the man's death and extended its condolences to his family and friends.

Mr Diver said Thredbo Ski Patrol and a Thredbo Medical Centre doctor had attended the scene.

Earlier, treacherous conditions on the road to Thredbo caused an incident involving 18 vehicles, including a police car.

NSW Police urged drivers to exercise caution after the incident on Alpine Way, which started when two vehicles crashed and stopped in the roadway just after 10pm on Friday.

A police car and two other vehicles attempted to stop but all of them slid, causing multiple crashes.

Then, police said, about eight more vehicles coming down the road also lost control and became involved in the 13-vehicle pile-up.

Another five avoided collision but got stuck in the snow.

The Alpine Way incident didn't cause any injuries or major damage, but the road was closed until about 1.30am on Saturday.