Variable conditions across the mountain over the next 24 hours with this weather pattern. Rain affects slopes, providing a rain on snow avalanche risk first up for Sunday.
Snow showers above 1800m with strong north-westerly winds will start to develop wind slab on south-east aspects. This will continue throughout Sunday, and we should start to see the snow level lower to around 1600m. Above 1800m, you will also find exposed slopes from the previous storm winds, firm with a strong surface crust. Caution is required around all slopes due to the varying risks they present.
Concerns around how the rain below 1800m is affecting the Northerly aspects, which will not take much to lose cohesion after the last few days of weather. These slopes are our primary concern as rain continues Sunday morning. The previous slopes which had developed a crust will start to see this break down with the warm precipitation as well. Cuation is required at all elevations as any triggered wet avalnche is likely to travel some distance which could affect the upper round the mountain track. So always think about slopes that are above you.
No human-triggered or naturally triggered avalanches have been reported or observed over the past 24 hours.
20mm of Rain over the last 12 hours below 1800m has started to penetrate the ,snowpack especially on the northerly aspects which were slightly moist for ambient heat. Other aspects have started to see the surface crust breaking down with this precipitation. Northerly slopes below 1800m are starting to lose cohesion with this rain, which will continue on Sunday.
Rain Sunday morning below 1800m with strong north-westerly winds. A cooler change is expected late in the afternoon, which should mean snow to around 1600m.
Conditions are going to vary, as things cool off after this wet period, slopes will become very slick.
High
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
