Nelson Lakes

Not a good time to be in the mountains. Wind slab danger is increasing again on eastern-facing aspects above 1900m as new snow falls at upper elevations and is redistributed by gale-force northwest winds. Loose wet avalanche danger will continue where sufficient snow exists below 1900m.

No observations have been possible during this storm but we would expect a widespread loose wet avalanche cycle to have occurred on Wednesday and Thursday. Please provide any snowpack or avalanche observations using the link below.

https://www.avalanche.net.nz/observations

Snow cover below 1800m is intermittent, especially on north and west-facing aspects. Cover above 1800m is consistent, particularly on south and east aspects. No significant weakness has been noted in the snowpack below 1800m. Rain has saturated the snowpack at all elevations on Wednesday and up to 1900m on Thursday. Snow will have been falling during Thursday afternoon in the high alpine, accompanied by gale-force northwest winds. This will continue during Thursday night and Friday. There are few observations of snowpack strength above 1800m, so continue to be cautious at upper elevations.

Continuous rain /snow and wind from the northwest is still battering the park at the time of publication (1630hrs Thursday). The current freezing level is 1900m. Weather forecast is for continued rain and snow above 1800m, heavy at times. The wind will be severe gale-force north-westerly winds, easing a little during Friday. The freezing level will lower from 2100m to 1700m late on Friday.

An ice axe and crampons need to be carried for mountain travel but the snow will be soft below 1800m.

Moderate

• We are confident the likelihood of avalanches will increase with the forecast weather.
• We are uncertain if precipitation will fall as rain or snow.
• We are uncertain due to rapidly changing freezing levels.