Avalanche forecast

Queenstown

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
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Highlights

A spring day with warm temps and sun.

Stick to supportive snow for the win.

Move to shady/low angle slopes if encountering wet and unsupportive snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Loose wet avalanches will be possible out of steep and confined terrain.

    Mostly on sunny slopes although maintain awareness on aspects from NW to E to SE.

    Move to shady/low angle slopes if encountering wet and unsupportive snow.

Recent Avalanche Activity

Minor loose wet activity out of steep and sunny terrain in the past days.

Current Snowpack Conditions

Spring like conditions dominate in the region. A melt freeze cycle has been occurring with only thin freezes overnight.

Expect a crust and wet snow in the upper snowpack everywhere except for directly sth aspects in the High Alpine. The lower snowpack is staying dry and is consolidated at upper elevations. Low down there is wet snow to the ground. Low elevation start zones now don’t have enough snow to pose a hazard.

Mountain Weather

A fine day with light winds and a 1800m FAFL.

Sliding Danger

A high freezing level. No real issues today.

Forecast Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to rapidly changing freezing levels.
  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)

Regions covered