Wind Slabs
- All elevations
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1.5
More snow 10-15cm and gale westerly winds are forecast for Saturday. Above around 1700m, a new round of wind slabs may start to form on mostly east-facing aspects.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapAspiring
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory
Avalanche danger
- High Alpine · above 2,000 m
- 2 · Moderate
- Alpine · 1,500 m–2,000 m
- 2 · Moderate
- Sub Alpine · below 1,500 m
- 1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired last month. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.
Highlights
Small but possibly touchy wind slabs may form as new snow and strong westerly winds are forecast for Saturday.
Very slick conditions currently exist below around 1650m.
Avalanche problems
Recent Avalanche Activity
On Thursday a look around the South Richardsons and Tyndall glacier area in the central part of the region revealed 1 Large avalanche ran off the Tyndall glacier on a SE aspect at 2400m. There was very little other significant activity observed in these areas. There have been no observations at the head of the West Matukituki or further north, where similar results could be expected.
If you see any recent avalanche occurrences or have any relevant snowpack information or photos, you can share them via the Public Observations link on the NZAA home page.
Current Snowpack Conditions
Gale westerly winds on Friday continued to blow snow from the west facing aspects above around 1900m. Some isolated features may have received new loading as a result. Between the 13th and 15th of July 60-70cm of new snow fell. This tapered off to rain between 1500-1700m as temperatures fluctuated. Gale northwesterly winds during this storm redistributed much of the new snow, leaving many west aspects stripped back to old ice layers and other lee areas with loading in excess of 100cm. Below this recent storm snow was a very shallow early-season snowpack of approximately 30-50 cm that had begun to facet over a week of fine, cold weather. Above, around 1900m a very hard ice layer exists at the very bottom of the pack.
Mountain Weather
Saturday
Showers turning to rain in the afternoon, possibly heavy.
Wind at 1000 metres Westerly 40 km/h.
Wind at 2000 metres Gale westerly 65 km/h, easing to southwesterly 45 km/h at night.
Wind at 3000 metres Gale westerly 85 km/h, easing to southwesterly 60 km/h at night.
Freezing level 1600 metres.
Issued: 9:39pm Fri 17 Jul
Sliding Danger
West-facing aspects may be stripped back to firm ice at all elevations. Below 1650m where rain-soaked snow has frozen, conditions are very slick.
Forecast Confidence
Moderate
- We are uncertain about forecast snowfall amounts.
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)