Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Island, North Island, South Island, Vancouver Island, West Island.
Pay attention to the wind. If it starts to pick up, fresh wind slabs may form at upper elevations.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Recent avalanche activity has been limited to loose dry sluffing and small (size 1) rider-triggered wind slabs in lee terrain features at upper elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Reports indicate good riding quality in the top 30 cm or so at most elevations. 50 to 80 cm of snow from the weekend is settling and bonding well to an underlying crust.
Below 1300 m, surfaces are moist and/or crusty.
The remainder of the snowpack is thoroughly settled and bonded.
Snowpack depths at treeline are now about 200 cm on the north and south island, and 300 cm on the central island.
Weather Summary
Tuesday night
Cloudy. Isolated flurries bringing 0 to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3°C.
Wednesday
Cloudy. Isolated flurries bringing 0 to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2°C.
Thursday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.
Friday
Cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
With plenty of soft snow available for transport, wind slabs will likely form in leeward terrain features as the wind picks up.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5