South Coast

Strong winds will probably make the alpine an unpleasant place to be on Tuesday. Watch out for overhead exposure if you end up hiding out at treeline. Natural avalanches will become increasingly likely through the day.

High - Due to the number and quality of field observations on Monday

A necessary reset is on its way, we're entering a prolonged period of cold, wet storm systems. TUESDAY: light snow overnight becoming heavy through the day with accumulations of up 30 cm expected, moderate to strong southerly winds 1500m freezing level. WEDNESDAY: heavy snow continues overnight with another 10-20cm expected before the snow stops in the morning, light southwesterly winds, 1500m freezing level. THURSDAY light to moderate snow with moderate southwest winds, 1500m freezing level.

Isolated artificially and naturally triggered storm slab, wind slab and cornice avalanches continue to be reported. Cornices are large and fragile, and may fail under the weight of a person. A prolonged natural avalanche cycle is expected on Tuesday.

Forecast heavy snow and strong winds will continue to formed fresh slabs in lee features and steep terrain in the alpine and at treeline. The upper snowpack sits above a widespread crust that was reported on all aspects and elevations before the weekend. Isolated pockets of surface hoar were reported in high north facing terrain that stayed cool prior to the storm. The mid-pack is generally well settled. A layer of surface hoar buried in early January can now be found down 1-2 m. In most places it is thought to be capped by a thick widespread crust, however, it has produced some recent isolated hard sudden planar failures in snow pit test from shallow snowpack areas in the north of the region.