Light at the end of the tunnel. With lots of avalanche activity across the range & alps in the past 36 hours, be very cautious in your approach to any avalanche terrain!
Wet Slab avalanches remain possible across the S 1/2 at upper-elevation bands. This will only be a problem in terrain above where recent rain has not drained through the recent snow. We suspect this elevation to be around 1700m.
Investigate the snowpack before entering avalanche terrain. These avalanches can be destructive and are running right down through the old snow to the ground.
Wind Slab avalanches are possible above 1800m across the SE 1/2. Forecast NW wind will transport recently fallen snow. Although the new/old bond is suspected to be good, instabilities within the new snow and what is being blown around are what's worth paying attention to.
Loose Wet avalanches will be likely on the NW 1/2 at all elevation bands. Look for roller balling or recent avalanche activity as a key sign of instability, and avoid steep, rocky avalanche terrain as temperatures rise and solar input increases.
Mt Hutt Patrol triggered a size 2.5 Wet Slab avalanche using explosives on Friday morning. This was on a SE aspect at 1850m and entrained old snow, pulling right back to the ground.
A natural Wind Slab and Loose Wet avalanche cycle occurred on most aspects below 1800m on Thursday afternoon. These ran in steep terrain up to Size 2.
Partly cloudy with continued strong NW wind. No further precipitation & the FAFL is forecast to drop to 2100m.
No sliding hazard currently exists in the Hutt Range. However, when lower elevation bands see cold temperatures and freeze, the sliding hazard will increase.
Moderate
25mm of rain to the ridge, followed by 35cm of snow, followed by a further 15mm of rain Friday morning, has been the tale of the tape. Above 1800m, recent snow is being redistributed into slabs across the S 1/2. Below this elevation, any recent snow has seen significant rain and drainage is establishing. Any evidence of previous crusts has been hard to find, as they had broken down at most elevation bands and on most aspects. The lower part of the pack was very well consolidated.
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
