Arthur's Pass

As the winds increase, the wind slab hazard will also increase. Look for transporting snow to indicate increasing hazard. Route selection should allow for changing hazard during the day.

Size 1 wind slab triggered 1 Aug. See public observation.

Loose wet to size 1 reported around the Arthur Pass area on solar/sunny aspects.

If you see anything, please report it in the public observations section of the NZAA website.

Snow 31 July to 1500m with bigger totals to the west of the divide ( 70+mm of rain in the last 48hrs in Arthurs pass) , tapering to the east. Gale westerly winds have been associated with the new snow; the further you are east, the stronger the winds, so expect some deep pockets while other areas are stripped back to firm surfaces. There have been a couple of storm cycles this season, bringing a base at higher elevations but associated with strong winds, leaving a pressed snowpack with no significant layers of concern. Limited snow cover below 1700m before the last storm. At lower elevations (below 2000m) ice crusts exist but bonding to the ice layers has been good.

Fine, becoming partly cloudy towards evening. Winds Southwesterly 50 km/h, but westerly gale 80 km/h about the Mackenzie Basin. Freezing level 1500 metres, lifting to 2000 metres in the evening.

Conditions have changed today; expect areas to be stripped back to hard surfaces from the gale winds. Crampons and an ice axe are a good idea, as many firmer areas now exist.

Moderate

• We are uncertain due to the variability of wind effect on the snowpack.