Avalanche forecast

Arthur's Pass

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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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 weeks ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

As the winds increase, the wind slab hazard will also increase. Look for transporting snow to indicate increasing hazard. Route selection should allow for changing hazard during the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    As the winds increase, the wind slab hazard will also increase. Look for transporting snow to indicate increasing hazard.

  • Loose Wet

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    As the sun comes out tomorrow, the loose wet hazard will increase during the day. Possible rain later in the day will also add another layer of decision-making to the loose wet avalanche hazard

Recent Avalanche Activity

Size 1 wind slab triggered 1 Aug. See public observation.

Loose wet to size 1 reported around the Arthur Pass area on solar/sunny aspects.

If you see anything, please report it in the public observations section of the NZAA website.

Current Snowpack Conditions

Snow 31 July to 1500m with bigger totals to the west of the divide ( 70+mm of rain in the last 48hrs in Arthurs pass) , tapering to the east. Gale westerly winds have been associated with the new snow; the further you are east, the stronger the winds, so expect some deep pockets while other areas are stripped back to firm surfaces. There have been a couple of storm cycles this season, bringing a base at higher elevations but associated with strong winds, leaving a pressed snowpack with no significant layers of concern. Limited snow cover below 1700m before the last storm. At lower elevations (below 2000m) ice crusts exist but bonding to the ice layers has been good.

Mountain Weather

Fine, becoming partly cloudy towards evening. Winds Southwesterly 50 km/h, but westerly gale 80 km/h about the Mackenzie Basin. Freezing level 1500 metres, lifting to 2000 metres in the evening.

Sliding Danger

Conditions have changed today; expect areas to be stripped back to hard surfaces from the gale winds. Crampons and an ice axe are a good idea, as many firmer areas now exist.

Forecast Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)

Regions covered