A good pulse of SE snow over Wednesday, but overall it's still very shallow out there, so any avalanche involvement would likely involve contact with rocks.
I would be tempted to save myself and my ski bases from harm and give it another storm or two. If you cant wait then be sure to investigate the strength and structure of the recent snow before committing to a slope.
Heavy snowfall through Wednesday will raise the chances of storm slab avalanching on many aspects, but especially those lee to the SE wind. (slopes and features facing N/NW). Wednesdays snow could be overlying a crust that could act as a good bed surface for any avalanching.
Fresh and older windslab may also be encountered close to ridgeline on N or NW aspects as a result of several days of SE winds.
Loose dry avalanching is likely out of steep terrain as new snow accumulates. If the sun comes out on Thursday expect to see an increase in loose snow avalanching, initially loose dry, but potentially becoming loose wet if the temperature increases.
No recent avalanche activity reported, but observations have been limited by bad weather.
Approximately 50 to 70cm of new snow has fallen in the Ohau area over the last 5 days above 1800m, tapering to around 30cm at 1500m. This came in wet and left cool so should be well bonded to the very limited pre-existing snow cover on S and E aspects above around 2000m. Below 2000m this new snow is sitting on the ground. Strong S or SE winds through the week, combined with new snowfall will have built wind and storm slab focused on and about N to NW aspects. A rime crust is now buried around 20cm below surface. Wednesdays new snow, about 15cm as of late afternoon, maybe sitting on a crust that formed with warming over Tuesday. Another 10cm new snow is possible through late Wednesday and into early Thursday before the tap is finally turned off.
Snow showers slowly clearing over Thursday, but probably remaining cloudy. Moderate ridgetop out of the SE. A high potential of rime.
Probably not much of sliding hazard at present.
Moderate
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
