North Island

Ongoing snowfall and strong south west wind will continue building reactive wind slab at elevations above 1800m.

With a limited early-season snowpack, there are not many reports from the backcountry. There have been no recent reports of avalanches.

Following this weekends storm, there is the potential for reactive wind slabs to exist in the alpine where precipitation falls as snow.

If you head into the mountains, please share any observations or photos on the MIN.

Up to 60 cm of new snow at upper elevations continues to be redistributed by strong southwest wind. Snow depth varies rapidly with elevation. There is no snow below 1000 m, about 30 to 70 cm at treeline, and up to 120 cm in the high alpine.

Overall, the snowpack is strong without any layers of concern.

Sunday Night
Cloudy. 10 to 25 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Monday
Cloudy. 35 to 70 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Wednesday
Cloudy. 15 to 20 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Snow is accumulating at higher elevations, despite lower elevations being almost snow-free.
• Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.