Complex snow-rain-snow-rain weather will require extra vigilance on Saturday.
Be alert to changing conditions and stick to ridge lines and low angle terrain if in doubt.
Trampers and other low elevation park users beware crossing gullies exposed from above. Safe travel is one at a time.
Shifting winds through the Northerly half and highly variable snowfall and freezing level estimates demand vigilance in assessing windslab formation.
Transported snow may be blown lower than you expect, so beware snow density changes (stiffer, firmer snow) in unexpected places.
Predicted rain below 1800m will add weight to the snowpack and raise the hazard of loose wet avalanches on all aspects.
No avalanche activity reported.
If you see anything, please report it in the public observations section of the NZAA website.
Small amounts of new snow arrived at higher elevations on Friday afternoon. Previously, the upper snow pack had been settling out, though field reports indicated possible weaknesses that the incoming storm may overload to trigger avalanches. There are wind stripped surfaces at higher elevations on NW through S aspects. The lower snow pack is consolidated with no significant layers of concern. There are limited observations of the new snow line around the forecast area, but threshold for avalanches is estimated at around 1500m in the west, tapering east. At lower elevations (below 2000m) ice crusts exist but bonding to the ice layers has been good.
Forecast for Saturday 7 August
Rain, possibly heavy. Snow above 1500 metres.
Wind at 1000 metres
Light. Easterly 40 km/h developing in the evening.
Wind at 2000 metres
Northerly 40 km/h, dying out for a time in the morning, then rising to northeasterly gale 70 km/h late evening.
Freezing level
1800 metres, lowering to 1500 metres in the evening.
Expect areas to be stripped back to hard surfaces from the gale winds at higher elevations. Crampons and an ice axe are a good idea, as many firmer areas now exist.
Moderate
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
