The snowpack is developing weaknesses.
Shady, consequential slopes should be avoided while we gather more info.
Choose terrain with good runouts and practise safe travel techniques.
Loaded areas in shady, steep/extreme terrain or areas with poor runouts should be treated with a lot of caution.
Climbers should be ready to navigate and avoid even small pockets.
Conservative decision making is essential until we know how widespread and reactive the weak snow is.
The wind slab hazard is beginning to bond to the old surface but areas with no support - slopes ending in a cliff - could still be reactive to a single persons weight.
Loose wet avalanches out of steep and sunny slopes will be possible today.
Rollerballing and sticky snow is a sign of instability. Move to low angle shady terrain if observed.
Cardrona and Remarks Patrols reporting wind slabs up to size 1.5 from explosives use in the last 2 days. Numerous reports of whumpfing and shooting cracks from The Remarkables.
30-40cm dense snow over several days earlier this week. More snow in the High Alpine with rain falling at lower elevations initially.
Recent Strong to Gale NW, W and SW winds have formed a dense slab on lee slopes around terrain features.
On shady slopes these slabs are formed over a very thin and faceted lower snowpack. In the eastern parts of the region - The Remarkables - there has been numerous reports of whumpfing and shooting cracks. These failures have been happening on the weak, faceted snow.
Sunny slopes have seen minor heat effect in recent days. Expect a thin crust to have formed.
In general the snowpack is still very thin with windward slopes scoured back to ground or a crust old surface.
Fine with S-G W winds. Warm temps with a 2300m FAFL.
Firm conditions do now exist. Likely to be found in terrain exposed to the western winds. Caution required in steep terrain.
Moderate
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
