NORTH EAST VIC: 
RECENT OBSERVATIONS
UPDATED: 8th/ OCTOBER / 2018

REPORT CONFIDENCE: STRONG
CURRENT UNTIL: 12TH/ OCTOBER / 2018

OBSERVATION SUMMARY

TREND: IMPROVING / ONGOING / DETERIORATING

CURRENT OBSERVATION:

We are at ‘Peak Corn’ this week. All the North Faces are burnt off to the extent that there is a bit of heath hiking involved even on other aspects that share a bit of north. From our observation the avalanche hazards are very acute with the only problem existing in the remaining (above 1850m) steep (30˚+) north east aspects that are copping serious solar and will slough off easily. However, as opposed to the last bulletin, we have perfect isothermal snowpack (thanks to last Thursdays rain event) without any buried weakness present in the snowpack these wet sloughs can’t pulling out at depth. They will travel the length of the slope beyond 30˚, quickly on the slicker early surface, slower in the arvo slush. Standard stuff really… so with all that said it is ‘Green Light Go’ for getting steep on the hill.
OUTLOOK:
There won’t be a freeze tonight and then rain on the way Tuesday, so snow conditions will be getting heavy followed by a dip below 0˚ into Wednesday. This will firm things up, perhaps a light dusting of snow associated with this. Then back to the freeze / thaw cycle for Thursday and our next, possibly last bulletin.

STABILITY SUMMARY: SUNDAY ONWARDS
(SEE ‘SECONDARY HAZARD’ BELOW)

Primary Hazard

SECONDARY HAZARD

AVALANCHE CHARACTERISTICS

Other Hazards:
Cornice Collapse
With a 1.5m snowpack (3m on windloaded aspects) we are urging  people to be careful and stay well clear of the cornices. With rapid warming or rain they will become prone to collapse.  

Weather Models

Snowpack Assessments

The EXTRA Column

The information provided here deviates from the standard reporting format that we apply to the travel advisory. It sometimes shows recent field obs results and images. It is  pitched at participants looking for more detail.