Date / Region: 15/07/2020 NSWMainRange
Advisory Confidence: MODERATE - Limited observations from alpine
Alpine Conditions
Sub-Alpine Conditions
Mountain environments can be categorised as above or below the tree line, thus Alpine and Subalpine respectively. Find out more about how these types of terrain can create or mitigate backcountry hazards here.
Travel & Terrain advice:
With whiteout and moderate winds in the alpine, exercise extra caution. In the sub-alpine, shallow areas around bushes and creeks may collapse under weight and riding will be heavy going. Snow quality may be better at higher elevations with the colder temps although beware of widespread breakable rain crust. The recent snowfalls have set up the Main Range for great travel once this unsettled weather moves to the east.
Primary Avalanche Problem
Windslabs have developed in the Alpine from SE winds. Human triggering is possible to size 2 on lee slopes. Exercise extra caution and avoid steep, loaded or cross-loaded terrain.
We need your eyes too. If you’ve been touring in the Alpine National Park we’d love to know what you have seen. Every little bit helps.
Observations Summary
Snow Surface Conditions Summary
Heavy snow will be getting lighter and drier with a cold air flow from the south. Widespread breakable rain crust up in the higher elevations. Below treeline without a base in places the snow can collapse with weight, particularly as temps increase in the middle of the day.
Windward aspects: E - SE - S - SW
Alpine depth: 1m +
Sub-Alpine depth: 95cm
Leeward aspects: W - NW - N -NE
Alpine depth: 1m +
Sub-Alpine depth: 95cm
Weather Summary
Moderate SSE-SW winds with gusts up to 50kmh in the Alpine. Temps ranging from -3 to 1. The low in the Tasman is continuing to bring unsettled weather today, but will move away to the east in the second half of the week to be replaced by a ridge of high pressure. [Source:BOM]