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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2023–Mar 26th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Island.

A storm Thursday and Friday, delivered 30 cm of new snow that has fallen on a well established melt freeze crust.

Allow time for this new snow to settle and bond to old surfaces and carefully consider your terrain choices prior to committing to avalanche terrain, especially those areas with evidence of wind transport and loading.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, field teams observed small (size 1.5) dry loose avalanches occurring once new snow was exposed to daytime warming and solar input.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Thursday and Fridays snow storm delivered 20 to 30 cm of new snow. This new snow initially fell as graupel then as low density unconsolidated powder that buried a melt freeze crust. Initially the new snow did not exhibit any slab properties but daytime warming has settled and now created a slab that overlies this melt freeze crust with the graupel acting as a weak interface.

In terrain above 1600 m greater than 30 cm of preserved and wind affected dry snow is likely to exist. An established melt freeze crust can be found at elevations 1600 m and below, expect this new storm snow to take a little time to bond to this old surface. At all elevations the mid and lower snowpack has a number of old melt freeze crusts that are unreactive and overall presents as consolidated, well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with flurries, 1 to 5 cm of accumulation. Moderate north winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature -8°C. Freezing levels descend to sea level.

Sunday

Cloudy with some afternoon clearing, no new precipitation. Moderate southeast winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing levels rise to 1000 m.

Monday

Cloudy, becoming clear in the afternoon. No new precipitation. Moderate to strong southeast winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing levels rise to 1500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy, becoming clear in the afternoon. No new precipitation. Moderate to strong southeast winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing levels rise to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.