Avalanche forecast

Arthur's Pass

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired last month.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

Highlights

With snow forecast again tomorrow, the wind slab hazard will increase during the day. Plan conservative lines and to keep out of steeper ground until the new snow settles.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5

    If the snow that is forecast arrives (more than 10cm) expect the wind slab hazard to increase during the day.

  • Loose Wet

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    With rain forecasst tomorrow, lower elevations will have increasing loose wet hazard as the rain falls. Keep out of steeper ground if its raining.

Recent Avalanche Activity

Nothing reported in the last few days. If you see anything, please report it in the public observations section of the NZAA website.

Further south, a loose wet cycle has occurred in the Arrowsmiths region after the last storm cycle.

Current Snowpack Conditions

10m of rain today below 1900m; this will have made lower elevations wet, and 10cm of wind-pressed snow at higher elevations. This fell on a generally well-settled snowpack. Limited snow cover below 1700m. 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.

Mountain Weather

Periods of rain, heavy before dawn, with snow possible to 1400 metres. Winds Northwesterly severe gale 130 km/h easing to severe gale 90 km/h before dawn. Becoming gale 70 km/h at night. Freezing level 1900 metres, lowering to 1200 metres in the evening.

Sliding Danger

Expect firm areas from strong winds, mostly on ridge lines and high points. Crampons and an ice axe are a good idea. Conditions are about to change in the next few days.

Forecast Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about forecast rain amounts.
  • We are uncertain about forecast snowfall amounts.

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)

Regions covered