A strong frontal system is moving over the region, bringing heavy snow and strong winds.
This will keep the avalanche hazard considerable above 1500m on Friday.
Avoid the backcountry or stay close to the hut and keep your terrain choices very mellow.
Wind and storm slab will be forming on mostly east and south facing aspects as heavy snow and strong winds move over the region on Thursday and Friday.
As storm totals increase, so will the likelihood of avalanches. Natural avalanches are expected to run during this storm cycle and could be large.
No recent reports.
If you see any recent avalanche occurrences or have any relevant snowpack information or photos, you can share them via the Public Observations link on the NZAA home page.
A significant north west storm is forecast to move over the region on Thursday and Friday. Snow is forecast to fall to around 1600m then hopefully lower elevations over Friday. Gale northwest winds are expected during this storm.
A small top-up of 4- 5 cm fell last Saturday evening, with strong south-west winds forming very small pockets of windloading just under ridgelines. Previously, gale westerly winds redistributed the 60- 70 cm of storm snow from earlier last week, mostly stripping west aspects back to hard ice or rock and loading east aspects above 2000m with 1-2m of dense snow. At around 1800m the snow depth is around 50-70cm and was capped by a supportive rain crust before the current storm.
Although the pack appears consolidated, in some isolated areas on mostly south-facing aspects above around 1900m, weak faceted forms may be starting to develop and should be monitored with future loading.
Forecast for Friday
Rain, with snow possible to 1200 metres.
Wind at 1000 metres Northwesterly gale 70 km/h easing to 50 km/h in the morning. Turning to southwesterly 40 km/h in the evening.
Wind at 2000 metres Northwesterly severe gale 90 km/h easing to 60 km/h in the morning. Turning southwesterly 50 km/h in the evening.
Wind at 3000 metres Northwesterly severe gale 100 km/h easing to gale 70 km/h in the morning, then 40 km/h by evening.
Freezing level 1500 metres, lowering to 1100 metres in the afternoon. Then to 900 metres at night.
Issued: 1:09pm Thu 23 Jul
New snow will hopefully soften the current snow surface where west-facing aspects have been stripped back to firm ice at all elevations and very slick firm conditions are on all aspects below 1700m.
Moderate
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
