Weak and faceted snow exists in shady areas.
Avoid loaded areas in extreme/climbing terrain.
If skiing/riding choose terrain with good runouts and practise safe travel techniques.
Loaded areas in shady, steep/extreme terrain or areas with poor runouts should be treated with a lot of caution.
Climbers should be ready to navigate and avoid even small pockets.
Conservative decision making is essential until we know how widespread and reactive the weak snow is.
Most snow available to add to the wind slab problem has been stripped from windward slopes.
The slab is mostly unreactive now but continue to avoid areas with no support - slopes ending in a cliff - today.
Cardrona and Remarks Patrols reporting up to size 1.5 in the last 3 days. Numerous reports of whumpfing and shooting cracks from The Remarkables.
Recent Strong to Gale NW, W and SW winds have formed a dense slab on lee slopes around terrain features.
On shady slopes these slabs are formed over a very thin and faceted lower snowpack. In the eastern parts of the region - The Remarkables - there has been numerous reports of whumpfing and shooting cracks. These failures have been happening on the weak, faceted snow.
Sunny slopes have seen minor heat effect in recent days. Expect a thin crust to have formed.
In general the snowpack is still very thin with windward slopes scoured back to ground or a crust old surface.
Cloud developing with S - G W winds. 1700m FAFL.
Firm conditions do now exist. Likely to be found in terrain exposed to the western winds. Caution required in steep terrain.
Moderate
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
