Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Island, North Island, South Island, Vancouver Island, West Island.
Where there's dry snow (at the highest elevations), check for wind slabs around ridgelines and in leeward terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Looking forward, we expect small wind slabs may have formed at upper elevations.
Small loose wet avalanches out of steep terrain on northwest-facing slopes were reported on Thursday around Mt Washington.
Snowpack Summary
5 cm of new snow falls on 20 cm of moist snow at upper elevations and a wet and unconsolidated upper snowpack below 1100 m, from above-freezing temperatures and rain.
A robust crust, formed in early March, can be found in the mid-pack. The snow above is well bonded to this crust. Below this, the snowpack is well consolidated and strong.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 30 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.
Sunday
Clearing to sunny. 45 to 60 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Monday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 mm falling as snow above 1000 m. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1250 m.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- 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.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Where dry snow accumulates, check for wind slabs around ridges and leeward terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches are possible at lower elevations where the snowpack is moist or saturated from rain, or where new snow sees sun and warming for the first time.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2