The new snow needs time to settle and gain strength.
With more snow expected on Wednesday night and fresh windloading throughout Thursday, safe travel will depend on solid terrain and snow assessment.
There is a high degree of uncertainty due to limited field observations. A conservative approach is recommended.
Although the weather is set to clear early morning, wind loading will continue throughout Thursday adding to large drifts that have accumulated during the last few days.
We expect slabs to extend a long way down slope. They will involve a lot of snow and could be triggered by a single persons weight.
Take care to identify and avoid wind loaded terrain.
Although the last few day's storm snow has settled quickly, instabilities within the storm snow could still be triggered. Safe travel will require excellent snow evaluation skills and conservative terrain choices. Bad visibility will make it very hard if not impossible to evaluate conditions.
Loose dry avalanches are also likely, particularly in steep terrain sheltered from the wind.
These avalanches are likely to be small, but could carry you into nasty terrain or also trigger larger slabs.
Some small loose dry avalanches were reported out of very steep terrain.
Observations have been limited during the current storm cycle.
Total amounts of new snow varies across the region, with the heaviest falls in the south and west of the range.
120 cm of light snow was reported in the Camp Stream area. 70cm of dense snow at Round Hill and Dobson.
Fox Peak only received 40cm. We expect the far north end of the range to also have around 30cm.
In exposed places, this snow has been distributed by gale southerly winds with deep drifts expected on northerly facing terrain.
The new snow is settling fast below about 1600m with slightly warmer temperatures on Tuesday afternoon.
More snow is expected during Wednesday night before a clearance on Thursday morning.
Wind loading from the south is expected to continue throughout Thursday.
Occasional rain, clearing from afternoon. Snow lowering to 600 metres for a time early morning.
Wind at 1000 metres
Southeasterly 45 km/h, easing to 30 km/h in the afternoon.
Wind at 2000 metres
Southeasterly gale 70 km/h, easing to 55 km/h in the morning, then to 35 km/h in the evening.
Freezing level
900 metres, lowering to 800 metres by afternoon.
Sliding danger should be low due to new snow.
Low
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
