Beware of sliding falls! Much of the forecast area is covered with a melt freeze crust, and cold, cloudy weather on Saturday make it unlikely snow will soften.
Make sure you're appropriately equipped (ice axe and crampons) and ski with caution. It might be a day to stick to groomers.
Pockets of windslab could be lurking above 2100m on sheltered southeasterly aspects. These will be healing but could still produce avalances in steep, unsupported terrain.
Watch for signs of windloading, especially in the north of the forecast area, and take extra caution around steep convex rolls or slopes above cliffs.
13/8/26 - Ohau Ski Patrol reported a small loose wet avalanche on a north east facing slope at 1600m in steep terrain.
12/8/26 - Ohau Ski patrol observed a small wind slab avalanche from a ski cut at 1880m on a south aspect.
The upper snowpack is rain soaked and refrozen up to around 2000m. Above this, an estimated 15-25cm of new snow from the 12th and 13th has been redistributed by northerly and northwesterly winds. On sunny slopes it is now capped by a melt freeze crust, but shady slopes will still hold some windpressed powder.
The lower pack was a mix of melt freeze crusts on sunny slopes, windscoured crusts in exposed areas, and drifts of firm, windpressed snow. With a thin snowpack in places and some cold nights, faceting has been observed in the lower pack, but so far we're not seeing any weak layers that are causing problems. Below around 1700m the lower snowpack is isothermal.
A fine and frosty start. Scattered rain developing late morning, with snow lowering to 500 metres from late afternoon.
Wind at 1000 metres: Southeasterly 30 km/h.
Wind at 2000 metres: Southerly 30 km/h, rising to 55 km/h in the evening.
Freezing level: 1800 metres, lowering to 1400 metres in the morning, then to 900 metres in the afternoon.
There is a high danger of sliding falls. Most of the region will be covered by a slick melt freeze crust and the surface is unlikely to release on Saturday. Take an ice axe and crampons for any travel above the snow line.
High
New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZ Mountain Safety Council)
