Avalanche forecast

Craigieburn Range

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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Highlights

A change in weather for a few days. Traveling in gale force winds is not recommended.

Careful assessment required if entering steep loaded slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1

    An increase in temperatures and rain will mean Loose Wet slides may occur on steep slopes at mid to lower elevations where enough snow exists.

  • Wind Slabs

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5

    With strong West to Northwest winds comes Wind Slabs. These will form on South and Eastern aspects where there is enough snow. With the freezing level hovering around 1900m, these Wind Slabs will be mostly found above 1800m. Even a small slide could get rough in the wrong place.

Recent Avalanche Activity

Small Cornice fall observed from the Highway 14/07. East aspect, 1700m.

Current Snowpack Conditions

It is looking like around 75-90cm at the South of the range tapering to about 40-50cm to the North. Initially the most of the snow came with strong Southeast winds which dropped during the storm. Temperatures rose before things cooled again 08/07. Coverage is patchy with significant pockets of wind deposited snow to very thin patches where the early wind had stripped things back to ground.

Mountain Weather

Wednesday: Showers, turning to rain in the morning, possibly heavy about the Divide, easing in the evening. Snow above 1600m. Northwest gale turning Westerly in the afternoon. Freezing level 2000m.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Westerly gale easing in the afternoon. Freezing level 2000m.

Sliding Danger

Consider Ice axe and Crampons if venturing out.

Forecast Confidence

Moderate

  • The snowpack structure is well understood.
  • We are uncertain due to variable freezing levels.

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)

Regions covered