With increasing winds, the wind slab hazard will increase during the day. Lots of snow is available for transport, so expect changing conditions during the day. Consider route choices for changing hazard.
With increasing winds, the wind slab hazard will increase during the day. Lots of snow available for transport, so expect changing conditions during the day. Consider route choices for changing hazard.
New snow plus sun equals loose, wet avalanche hazard. It's now had 2 day to settle, but the freezing level is rising again tomorrow. Be cautious of steep sunny/north facing terrain and runouts.
Multiple loose, wet size 1-1.5 were observed on all aspects on the 24th that ran during the storm. See public observation.
If you see anything, please report it in the public observations section of the NZAA website.
80mm of rain fell in Arthur's Pass on Friday. Initially, rain fell below 1900m, but the freezing level dropped later in the storm, with snow to 1100m. Over 80cm of new snow fell above 1900 m, with drifts to over 1m expected; expect some storm shears within the new snow. The lower elevations will have started wet, with new snow expected to have bonded well. All this fell on a generally well-settled snowpack. Limited snow cover below 1700m before the last storm. There have been a couple of storm cycles this season, bringing a base at higher elevation associated with strong winds, leaving a pressed snowpack with no significant layers of concern. At lower elevations (below 2000m) ice crusts exist but bonding to the ice layers has been good.
Cloud about the tops, and a few showers from afternoon. Winds Northwesterly 45 km/h, rising to gale 65 km/h in the afternoon. Freezing level 1800 metres.
Conditions have changed; new snow fell last week, but the sun has been out, causing melt-freeze conditions. Crampons and an ice axe are a good idea, as many firmer areas now exist.
Moderate
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
