Avalanche forecast

Craigieburn Range

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory
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Avalanche danger

High Alpine · above 1,800 m
2 · Moderate
Alpine · 1,200 m–1,800 m
2 · Moderate
Sub Alpine · below 1,200 m
1 · Low
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Highlights

A change in weather for a few days. Traveling in gale force winds is not recommended.

Careful assessment required if entering steep loaded slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    An increase in temperatures, or rain will mean Loose Wet slides may occur on steep slopes at lower elevations where enough snow exists. Not much snow below 1200m but this will soften quickly.

  • Wind Slabs

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5

    With strong South to Southeast winds previously and now the forecast is for Northwest winds. This will mean extra care is required if venturing into steep slopes where there in enough snow to ride. These Wind Slabs will be mostly found above 1800m. Even a small slide could get rough in the wrong place.

Forecast Confidence

Moderate

  • The snowpack structure is well understood.
  • We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.

Recent Avalanche Activity

Nil reported in the last 24hrs..

Current Snowpack Conditions

It is looking like around 75-90cm at the South of the range tapering to about 40-50cm to the North. Initially the most of the snow came with strong Southeast winds which dropped during the storm. Temperatures rose before things cooled again 08/07. Coverage is patchy with significant pockets of wind deposited snow to very thin patches where the early wind had stripped things back to ground.

Mountain Weather

Tuesday: Isolated showers, becoming widespread and heavier with thunderstorms possible about the divide in the afternoon and evening. Northwest gales turning Westerly in the evening. Freezing level around 2500m.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with isolated showers, becoming widespread for a time in the morning and afternoon. Snow to 1800m. Northwesterly winds turning Westerly in the afternoon. Freezing level around 2000m.

Sliding Danger

Wind polished surfaces and icy areas will be very slippery especially at lower elevations. Consider Ice axe and Crampons if venturing out.

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)

Regions covered