Avalanche forecast

Mt Hutt

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory
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Avalanche danger

High Alpine · above 1,800 m
2 · Moderate
Alpine · 1,200 m–1,800 m
1 · Low
Sub Alpine · below 1,200 m
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 weeks ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Not a day to get caught out in the backcountry as a Southerly front hits the Hutt Range mid afternoon!

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    A shallow Storm Slab problem will develop rapidly as snowfall begins. It will certainly become possible to trigger size 1 avalanches, especially if snowfall totals reach 5-10cm at upper elevation bands.

Recent Avalanche Activity

None reported in the past 48 hours.

Current Snowpack Conditions

As the FAFL plummets tomorrow expect the snowpack to harden significantly. Currently, it resembles a snowpack you would see mid September or October with predominantly melt forms on the N 1/2 at all elevation bands. The Southerly aspects, especially above 1800m, are springlike at the surface but remain cold lower in the pack.

Mountain Weather

A mixed bag in the morning with NW winds dying out. A Southerly change is expected mid afternoon with snowfall beginning later in the day. FAFL 900m down to 500m.

Sliding Danger

Crampons and an axe will be required as the snowpack will see a solid freeze overnight Friday.

Forecast Confidence

High

  • We are confident the likelihood of avalanches will increase with the forecast weather.

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)

Regions covered