NORTH EAST VIC
CONDITIONS SUMMARY
UPDATED: 16th AUGUST 2019
REPORT CONFIDENCE: STRONG
CURRENT UNTIL: 20th JuLY 2019
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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.
CONDITIONS SUMMARY
16th August 2019: A pretty happy time has been seen out on the hills, until the place turned to coral. Continued warming and atmospheric moisture lower down has seen spring conditions slowly creep up the hills. That’s all in the past though as a new precip event wedges in this afternoon, followed by a more vigorous flow Sunday. What will happen? SM
OBSERVED HAZARDS & ACTIVITY
Melt freeze / rime ice crusts firming on North and west aspects.
Variable visibility.
PRIMARY HAZARD
Current Snowpack Conditions
We have a firm crust with evidence of surface hoar, and faceted snow ‘supporting?’ the crust, more obvious on solar aspects and down low around 1650. Between this ‘August’ snow and the hard ‘June’ base is a mixed bag with two slowly mending weak layers laid down in gaps between the fronts of the last storm. The top is cold -4˚ with hoar frost at the interface and the deeper is a graupel layer -2˚. Not plain sailing but saved by the strong cohesion of the top 10cm. Not an unfamiliar story at this time of the year.
CONDITIONS Outlook
IMPROVING / ONGOING / DETERIORATING
A bit of a wet mixed bag of conditions leading into the next significant storm due Sunday. Still great touring conditions out on the range just a bit of changeable weather and wind. Take care, have fun! SM
Mount Hotham RESORT
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
14th August 2019: The surface got a little damp yesterday due to the humidity, and the cooling overnight has formed a slight crust in most areas of the back-country. If the day warms or we have some light precipitation of any sort we may see this crust break down however feel it out before launching in. Take Care. BB
12th August 2019: Amazing conditions in Woman's Downhill today. New snow averaging around 100 cm. All that new snow is sitting on firm crust, and weak layers were found in that new snow. Top 30cm is dry fist hardness, got an interesting layer of what seems like surface hoar 50cm down and layer of graupel 70cm down the snowpack. CTM PC results on both layers. LSALPINE WEATHER
FALLS CREEK RESORT
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
FEATHERTOP
ALPINE NATIONAL PARK
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:
14the August 2019: Given observations conducted in the vicinity of Feathertop on Monday afternoon there are still some weak layers around 15cm - 30cm associated with a density shift, buried hoar and graupel. With slow mending in a super cold snowpack (-8˚) there’s a good reason to be concerned about wind slab aspects lee to the north and west up high. Cornices are looming large and pinwheels and small collapses observed. Not out of the woods yet in the high alpine.
