Fiordland

Wind slab is possible, especially around terrain features at the highest elevations.

There is very little information available at this early stage of the winter. If you are heading into avalanche terrain, take the time to check out conditions, and please submit some observations.

Thursday - Some morning and evening cloud, otherwise fine

Southeasterly gale 80 km/h, easing to 55 km/h in the morning, dying out in the evening.

Freezing level - 1000 metres, lifting to 1600 metres at night.

Friday - Fine with some cloud. SE wind. Freezing level - 1600m lifting to 2000m in the afternoon.

Icy conditions are to be expected, on slabs and at higher elevations, which have been stripped back by S/SE winds. Take ice axe and crampons.

Moderate

• We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

Loose dry activity could be heard from the cliff bands with sun, above the Milford Track 7 July.

There is little snow cover below 1800m, (observed from flight around Milford Track and neighboring valleys to the east).

Est. 50-80 cm of snow above 1800m from 3-5th July storm, with less at lower levels, to about 15cm at 1100m.

The first snow fall of the winter was on 24/25th June, with about 10cm at 800m in the South of the forecasting area. There was less snow in the North, estimating about 10-20 cm above 1600m, on tussock, rock and slabs.