South Coast Inland

There is variability in the amount of snow forecast for the south and north of the region. With locally higher amounts of snow than forecast the avalanche danger may be elevated from what is indicated.

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

SATURDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-15cm / Moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2 / Freezing level 1400mSUNDAY: Isolated flurries / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature -3 / Freezing level 1300mMONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light north wind / Alpine temperature -4 / Freezing level 1200m

Several size 2.5 to 3 storm and wind slab avalanches were reported running naturally in the Duffy Lakes area on Thursday during a period of warming sunshine. These were on all aspects in the alpine and were 50-80cm deep.

Steady light snowfalls over the last week have accumulated 40-60cm of new snow in the region. Freezing levels to 2000m or higher and intermittent sun over the same time period created a variety of thin crust layers within the upper snowpack at lower elevations and on solar aspects. All this sits on a melt freeze crust formed March 21 up to the 2100m elevation. In the north of the region, the February persistent weak layers may still be found in the alpine and are down 100-140cm. They include a buried surface hoar layer as well as a crust/facet layer. In the southern parts of the region, the mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong.