Fiordland — Bollettino valanghe

Tuesday 12 Aug - Loose wet activity observed on all sunny aspects throughout the Darran Mountains Sun 9th Aug- Some wet loose activity reported during rain in the Gertrude Valley area. Showers, becoming few and far between this morning.Wind at 1000 metres - Northwesterly 35 km/h.Wind at 2000 metres - Northwesterly 35 km/h.Freezing level - 1800 metres. Surface conditions are variable, with wind scouring on windward slopes.  Take an axe and crampons if you're exploring.

Thur 13th August - About 15-20cm above 1800 - 1900m and rain below (30mm). The freezing level has been around 1800 -2000m for the last 48 hours. Fri 7th to Sun 9th. Up to 25cm fell in above about 1700m in northern Fiordland. Expect some slab development in the steep ground near ridgetops. Below about 1700m expect a lattice of rain crusts or even rain-soaked snow at the very low elevations. Above 1800 this snow overlies a snowpack that is thought to be stable. It is expected to have layers but has been tested by strong wind loading and wind stripping from both the west and the SE in early August. Below 1800 new snow overlies a thin snowpack has had rain on it at the beginning of pretty much all the winter storms, and is thought to be well stable.