Start on small features and retreat to mellower terrain if you find signs of instability.
Consider the consequences of any fall in steep or exposed terrain.
Human triggered avalanches are possible in the recent snow. The recent snow will be most unstable where you find the deepest deposits, or where it is dense and moist, and not sticking well to the old, hard surface.
No recent avalanches have been reported.
If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network).
Recent snowfall amounts above treeline have varied across the forecast area, expect the deepest soft snow to be on the west island, and the shallowest on the east, with the north and south being somewhere in between. With fluctuating freezing levels, rain around treeline has likely made the snow shallower, denser, and wetter. At high elevations, any recent soft snow covers a hard, frozen crust.
Below the crust, the rest of the snowpack is generally settled and well-bonded.
Below treeline, the snow is moist or wet and slopes are largely below the threshold for avalanches.
Monday Night
Cloudy. Light to moderate rain, generally 0-5 cm of snow expected above 1200 m, with 8 to 15 cm on the west and south island. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -3 °C
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. Light rain, 0 to 3 cm of snow expected above 1200 m. Moderate west ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 0 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 1 cm of snow expected above 1000 m. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 2 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy. Generally 0 to 2 cm of snow expected above 1000 m, with 10 to 15 cm possible on the north and west island. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 0 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
