Wanaka

Rain on the snow pack below about 1800m before the storm cooled.

The freezing level is forecast to climb to 3000m on Sunday.

Wet slide activity (Loose Wet, Wet Slab and Glide) is probable particularly, between 1200m to 1800m.

Plenty of wet slide activity (Loose Wet, Wet Slab and Glide) over the past few days. A skier accidentally triggered a size 1.5 Loose Wet slide on Friday (18/9) in the backcountry near Treble Cone. A cycle of natural wet slides (size 1 and 1.5) occurred on Thursday and Friday as the day warmed up. Also, on Thursday (17/9) a Glide Slab released on a North East facing slope near Treble Cone. On Thursday 10/9 a boarder triggered a size 1.5 Wind Slab in the back country south of Treble Cone (Aspect East, Elevation 1720m).

If you see evidence of avalanches in the back country please enter a Public Observation.

New snow will have landed on melt/freeze crusts especially, on North facing terrain. The snow pack is likely to holding a significant amount of moisture below about 1800m. Prior to the most recent storm a typical Spring melt/freeze cycle was occurring. The underlying snow pack above about 1800m is mostly well consolidated.

Sunday - showers falling as snow down to 500m - clearing in the morning. South West gales turning strong North West. Freezing level - 800m climbing to 3000m.

Spring conditions (melt/freeze) generally result in an elevated sliding hazard. Be prepared to encounter slick crusts or icy areas in places. Recommend carrying ski crampons and/or an ice axe and crampons.

Moderate

• We are confident the likelihood of avalanches will increase with the forecast weather.
• We are uncertain due to rapidly changing freezing levels.
• We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.