Avalanche forecast

Arthur's Pass

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 weeks ago.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

Highlights

Complex snow-rain-snow-rain weather will require extra vigilance on Saturday.

Be alert to changing conditions and stick to ridge lines and low angle terrain if in doubt.

Trampers and other low elevation park users beware crossing gullies exposed from above. Safe travel is one at a time.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5

    Shifting winds through the Northerly half and highly variable snowfall and freezing level estimates demand vigilance in assessing windslab formation.

    Transported snow may be blown lower than you expect, so beware snow density changes (stiffer, firmer snow) in unexpected places.

  • Loose Wet

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5

    Predicted rain below 1800m will add weight to the snowpack and raise the hazard of loose wet avalanches on all aspects.

Recent Avalanche Activity

No avalanche activity reported.

If you see anything, please report it in the public observations section of the NZAA website.

Current Snowpack Conditions

Small amounts of new snow arrived at higher elevations on Friday afternoon. Previously, the upper snow pack had been settling out, though field reports indicated possible weaknesses that the incoming storm may overload to trigger avalanches. There are wind stripped surfaces at higher elevations on NW through S aspects. The lower snow pack is consolidated with no significant layers of concern. There are limited observations of the new snow line around the forecast area, but threshold for avalanches is estimated at around 1500m in the west, tapering east. At lower elevations (below 2000m) ice crusts exist but bonding to the ice layers has been good.

Mountain Weather

Forecast for Saturday 7 August

Rain, possibly heavy. Snow above 1500 metres.

Wind at 1000 metres

Light. Easterly 40 km/h developing in the evening.

Wind at 2000 metres

Northerly 40 km/h, dying out for a time in the morning, then rising to northeasterly gale 70 km/h late evening.

Freezing level

1800 metres, lowering to 1500 metres in the evening.

Sliding Danger

Expect areas to be stripped back to hard surfaces from the gale winds at higher elevations. Crampons and an ice axe are a good idea, as many firmer areas now exist.

Forecast Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain if precipitation will fall as rain or snow.
  • We are uncertain due to the timing of the incoming weather system.

New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)

Regions covered