Fiordland

A high sliding hazard. The wet snowpack, from the last few days of heat and rain, has refrozen up as temperatures dropped. Expect very icy surface conditions, possibly as high as 2200m.

Watch for any small pockets of wind slab which may remain, at higher elevations.

Wed 13 Aug - A series of avalanching (unsure of type) off Mt Talbot observed in the afternoon.

Tuesday 12 Aug - Loose wet activity observed on all sunny aspects throughout the Darran Mountains

Sun 9th Aug- Some wet loose activity reported during rain in the Gertrude Valley area.

14 -15th August - Expect a melt freeze crust on all aspects,2100m (perhaps 2200m) and below

12- 13th August - About 20-30cm above 2000m and rain below (45mm). The freezing level has been around 1800 -2200m for the last 48 hours.

Fri 7th to Sun 9th. Up to 25cm fell in above about 1700m in northern Fiordland. Expect some slab development in the steep ground near ridgetops. Below about 1700m expect a lattice of rain crusts or even rain-soaked snow at the very low elevations.

Above 1800 this snow overlies a snowpack that is thought to be stable. It is expected to have layers but has been tested by strong wind loading and wind stripping from both the west and the SE in early August.Below 1800 new snow overlies a thin snowpack has had rain on it at the beginning of pretty much all the winter storms, and is thought to be well stable.

Morning cloud clearing to fine.

Wind at 1000 metres - Southerly 35 km/h but gale 65 km/h north of Doubtful Sound. Becoming southerly 35 km/h everywhere about midday.

Wind at 2000 metres - Southerly 35 km/h but gale 65 km/h north of Doubtful Sound. Becoming southerly 35 km/h everywhere about midday.

Freezing level - 700 metres, rising to 1000 metres about midday.

A refreeze of the wet snowpack has taken place, to high elevations on all aspects. Take an axe and crampons if you're exploring.

Moderate

• We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.
• We are uncertain about forecast snowfall amounts.