Wanaka — Bollettino valanghe

Observations have been hampered over the past 24 hours by storm activity.  Wet slides (Loose Wet, Wet Slab and Glide) a few days ago. 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.       If you see evidence of avalanches in the back country please enter a Public Observation.   Sunday - snow overnight Saturday down to 400m. Snow showers easing during the morning. North West winds turning South West and rising to gale force at upper elevations. Freezing level - 1700m falling rapidly to 800m before dawn.  Spring conditions (melt/freeze) generally result in an elevated sliding hazard. Slick crusts and icy areas have been widespread especially, below about 1850m. Recommend carrying ski crampons and/or an ice axe and crampons.  

A mixture of rain and snow over the past 24 hours (15mm in the Albert Burn). The underlying snow pack above about 1800m is mostly well consolidated. The snow pack is likely to be holding a significant amount of moisture below about 1800m. Prior to the most recent storm a typical Spring melt/freeze cycle was occurring.