Avalanche forecast

Queenstown

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
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Highlights

New snow and wind overnight has loaded lee slopes in the Alpine and High Alpine.

Avoid steep entries and obvious loading as the snowpack transitions.

The avalanche hazard will increase over the coming days.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Avoid steep entries and obvious loading around terrain features.

    Pick terrain with clean run outs and practise good group management.

    The snowpack is still thin and even a small avalanche will be traumatic.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    This new snow will be a good test of the older weak layers which have been healing in recent conditions.

    Steep shady slopes with poor runouts should still be avoided as the new load is added.

Recent Avalanche Activity

No recent activity reported. This will change in the days ahead.

Current Snowpack Conditions

5-10cm yesterday evening above 1600m. Bonding well to the old surface with the warm temperatures.

Loading up to 40cm lee to the West. Expect loading on all aspects around significant terrain features with S - G winds.

This has fallen over a thin and varied snowpack. Exposed NW, W and SW slopes are stripped to ground or a firm crust.

Shady areas are still faceted but the recent warmer temps, cloud and precipitation is encouraging a healing trend.

Sunny slopes have seen a lot of heat effect with a crust existing below the new snow. Moist snow exists to the ground in the Alpine and below.

Mountain Weather

Cloudy day with winds and temperatures decreasing in the afternoon.

Snowing again to low elevations in the evening. FAFL lowering to 1100m.

Sliding Danger

Caution required in areas exposed to high winds and low elevations will freeze up this afternoon/evening.

Forecast Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about forecast snowfall amounts.
  • We are uncertain due to the timing of the incoming weather system.
  • We are uncertain due to how buried persistent weak layers will react with the forecast weather.

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)

Regions covered