Fiordland

Expect around 20cm snow above around 1500m in northern Fiordland over Saturday afternoon

Windslab conditions should develop at the upper elevation band (above 1800m) on slopes lee to the westerly winds. Avoid the steep gullies near ridgeline in the high elevation terrain.

At the mid elevation band expect wettish snow but show some caution in the steep shady areas .

There are probably no observers in the mountains and there are no recent observations.

Over Friday forecast warm temperatures and rain to high elevations did not eventuate. The snowpack should have settled at the mid elevations remained cold at the upper elevation band.

Over Thursday there was about 5 or 6 cm snow down to about 1500m, and up to about 15mm rain below that.

Over Wednesday there was around 10cm snow down to about 1200m with loading on the slopes lee to the west.

Over Tues 14th there was around 25 cm in the south and up to to 50cm in the north , with loading on slopes lee to the west, above 1900m, and a mix of rain and snow below 1900m, and just rain below around 1400m.

Over Monday 13th there was around 20cm snow above around 1900m and a mix of rain and snow below.

There is a thin snow cover below 1800m, (observed from flight around Milford Track and neighboring valleys to the east 7 July).

Est. 50-80 cm of snow above 1800m from 3-5th July storm, with less at lower levels, to about 15cm at 1100m.

The first snow fall of the winter was on 24/25th June, with about 10cm at 800m in the South of the forecasting area. There was less snow in the North, estimating about 10-20 cm above 1600m, on tussock, rock and slabs.

Expect light rain and snow to start on Saturday morning .

Icy conditions are to be expected at higher elevations, on the slopes which have been stripped back by S/SE winds. Take ice axe and crampons.

Moderate

• We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.
• We are uncertain due to variable freezing levels.