A tricky start to Friday with both rainfall and snowfall forecast. The weather looks set to clear up in the afternoon. Let's hope any new snow bonds well to the firm surfaces out there!
Small Wind Slabs will be possible to trigger on Friday. The new snow will be wind affected and is likely to deposit into 20-30cm deep drifts across the SE 1/2. Avoid obviously wind loaded entries where possible and look for sheltered slopes at lower elevations for quality skiing.
Loose Wet avalanches will be possible below 1800m. Any rain on snow will increase hazard. This problem will be very isolated to steep terrain holding cold snow above the rain crust.
There has been no avalanche activity reported in the past 48 hours.
The snowpack has seen significant wind above 1800m. Elsewhere, previously moist grains and a rain crust make for an interesting surface combination. This surface has been seeing some afternoon softening below 1700m, even on the Southerly 1/2 with recent warm temperatures. Underneath the surface there is no siginficant layering of note with the only storm of this season snow well consolidated through to ground.
5-10cm of spillover snow & rain is forecast for Thursday night into Friday morning. This will fall with strong NW wind. The FAFL will hover around 1800m then will begin to drop late on Friday.
With forecast precipitation any sliding hazard will become aspect dependent. Windward aspects will likely still have the exposed rain crust. Assess the surface prior to ending up on slope, a set of crampons and an axe may come in handy.
Moderate
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
