The new snow needs time to settle and gain strength.
With more snow and fresh windloading expected throughout Wednesday, safe travel will depend on solid terrain and snow assessment.
It's probably best to leave it for a few more days, before heading into avalanche terrain.
Wind loading will continue through out Wednesday, adding to large drifts that have accumulated during the last few days.
We expect slabs to extend a long way down slope. They will involve a lot of snow and could be triggered by a single persons weight.
Take care to identify and avoid wind loaded terrain.
Although the last few day's storm snow has settled quickly, instabilities within the storm snow could still be triggered. Safe travel will require excellent snow evaluation skills and conservative terrain choices. Bad visibility will make it very hard if not impossible to evaluate conditions.
Loose dry avalanches are also likely, particularly in steep terrain sheltered from the wind.
These avalanches could also trigger storm slabs.
Some small loose dry avalanches were reported out of very steep terrain.
Observations have been limited during the current storm cycle.
Total amounts of new snow varies across the region, with the heaviest falls in the south and west of the range.
120 cm of light snow was reported in the Camp Stream area. 70cm of dense snow at Round Hill and Dobson.
Fox Peak only received 30cm. We expect the far north end of the range to also have around 30cm.
The new snow is settling fast with slightly warmer temperatures on Tuesday afternoon.
In exposed places, this snow has been distributed by gale southerly winds with deep drifts expected on northerly facing terrain.
More snow is expected during Wednesday.
Occasional rain, falling as snow above 600 metres.
Wind at 1000 metres
Southeasterlies 35 km/h.
Wind at 2000 metres
Southeasterlies 30 km/h, rising to gale 70 km/h in the afternoon.
Freezing level
700 metres
Sliding danger should be low due to new snow.
Moderate
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
