Not a day to get caught out in the backcountry as a Southerly front hits the Hutt Range mid afternoon!
A shallow Storm Slab problem will develop rapidly as snowfall begins. It will certainly become possible to trigger size 1 avalanches, especially if snowfall totals reach 5-10cm at upper elevation bands.
None reported in the past 48 hours.
As the FAFL plummets tomorrow expect the snowpack to harden significantly. Currently, it resembles a snowpack you would see mid September or October with predominantly melt forms on the N 1/2 at all elevation bands. The Southerly aspects, especially above 1800m, are springlike at the surface but remain cold lower in the pack.
A mixed bag in the morning with NW winds dying out. A Southerly change is expected mid afternoon with snowfall beginning later in the day. FAFL 900m down to 500m.
Crampons and an axe will be required as the snowpack will see a solid freeze overnight Friday.
High
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
