A strong frontal system is moving over the region, bringing heavy snow and strong winds.
This will increase the avalanche hazard to considerable over Thursday and Friday.
Avoid the backcountry or stay close to the hut and keep your terrain choices very mellow.
Wind and storm slab will be forming on mostly east and south facing aspects as possibly heavy snow and strong winds move over the region on Thursday and Friday.
As storm totals increase, so will the likelihood of avalanches and a considerable hazard is expected by Thursday afternoon.
No recent reports.
If you see any recent avalanche occurrences or have any relevant snowpack information or photos, you can share them via the Public Observations link on the NZAA home page.
A significant north west storm is forecast to move over the region on Thursday and Friday. Snow is forecast to fall to around 1600m then hopefully lower elevations by Thursday evening.
A small top-up of 4- 5 cm fell last Saturday evening, with strong south-west winds forming very small pockets of windloading just under ridgelines. Previously gale westerly winds redistributed the 60- 70 cm of storm snow from earlier last week, mostly stripping west aspects back to hard ice or rock and loading east aspects above 2000m with 1-2m of dense snow. At around 1800m the snow depth is around 50-70cm and is capped by a supportive rain crust.
Although the pack appears consolidated, in some isolated areas on mostly south-facing aspects above around 1900m, weak faceted forms may be starting to develop and should be monitored with future loading.
Forecast for Thursday
Rain, heavy at times. Possible thunderstorms from the evening. Snow lowering to 1400 metres in the afternoon and evening.
Wind at 1000 metres Northwesterly 30 km/h rising to 60 km/h in the morning.
Wind at 2000 metres Northwesterly 50 km/h rising to severe gale 90 km/h in the afternoon.
Wind at 3000 metres Northwesterly 60 km/h rising to severe gale 100 km/h in the afternoon.
Freezing level 1800 metres lowering to 1500 metres in the evening.
Issued: 1:16pm Wed 22 Jul
New snow will hopefully soften the current snow surface where west-facing aspects have been stripped back to firm ice at all elevations and very slick firm conditions are on all aspects below 1700m.
Moderate
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
