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IMPORTANT: The following information is provided in good faith. Both the observation and forecasting methods used to provide this summary are not consistent with international standard. They are based in the collective experience of those providing input on the conditions, the hazards and the respective rating if provided. Due to both the spatial and often subjective nature of the observation input available, forecasting is at best an estimate. Understanding, knowledge and practise in self assessment of alpine hazards is crucial to safe backcountry travel in all alpine areas covered here.
MAIN RANGE NSW:
RECENT OBSERVATIONS
UPDATED: 6th August 2019
REPORT CONFIDENCE: STRONG
CURRENT UNTIL: 8th AUGUST 2019
CONDITIONS SUMMARY
It’s back. These pages have been sorely neglected until now. Sadly we have been in a bureaucratic bind and now thankfully thats resolved. Meanwhile, out on Gills Knobs crew be ‘gettin crazy’ (view link) which was off the back of the only event we’ve called in NSW two weeks back.
Things have improved lately, the rime shields and rain crusts softened up, spring prevailed. And now for the storm SM
OBSERVED HAZARDS & ACTIVITY
Very hard, slick aspects East to South West - No avalanche activity. Blizzards conditions forecast. Travel in the backcountry not recommended.
CURRENT SNOWPACK CONDITIONS
Check in shortly for update on this storm.
ALPINE WEATHER
Currently windy, tipped to get windier. In short Blizzard conditions from Wednesday morning continuing until Monday.
CONDITIONS Outlook
IMPROVING / ONGOING / DETERIORATING
Consistent with a prolonged and rapid accumulation of snow, and transportation it is likely a heightened wind slab avalanche hazard will be building in the alpine.
Scheduled Observations
MT TATE & GUTHEGA TRIG AREA
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONs:
SnowSafety.com.au 14/07/2019
Did some digging on a South East aspect @ 1725m.
Snowpack depth 96cm.
Had Medium results on hand shear tests from 1680 to 1800m. These all failed on the layer @30cm with planar and break results.
Strong temperature gradient in the top 20cm of the snowpack.
The snow pack has a 6cm wind slab layer on the surface.
We were getting Medium CT results at 20cm and 57cm
see results below
CTM 14 SP @ 20 cm on Wind slab / new snow interface.
CTM18 SP @ 57 on interface between June 9th event and melt freeze layer
Layer of concern is the interface at 20cm.
