New Zealand · 28.07.2026

Craigieburn Range

Level 2: 1800 m–and above · Level 2: 1200 m–1800 m · Level 1: 1200 m–and above

Moderate

Danger level

2 — Moderate

Snowpack stability

The snowpack is only moderately well bonded on some steep slopes; otherwise well bonded in general.

Likelihood of triggering

Triggering is possible, primarily from high additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. Very large natural avalanches are unlikely.

Avalanche problems

Wet snow
The avalanche problem is related to a weakening of the snowpack due to the presence of liquid water. Water infiltrates the snowpack due to melt or rain.
Good timing and trip planning are important. Consider avalanche runout zones.
Affected aspects
NorthwestNorthNortheast
Wind slab
Wind slabs are formed when loose snow in near-surface layers (new snow or old snow) is transported and deposited by wind.
Avoid wind-drifted deposits in steep terrain.
Affected aspects
NortheastEastSoutheastSouth
New snow
The avalanche problem is related to current or most recent snowfall. The amount of additional loading by new snow onto the existing snowpack is the crucial factor of the new snow problem. How critical the loading is, depends on various factors such as air temperature, wind or characteristics of the old snow surface.
Wait until the snowpack has stabilised, or avoid steep terrain affected by recent snow.
Affected aspects
SoutheastSouthSouthwest

Stability

Coverage is patchy with significant pockets of wind deposited snow all the way through to very thin patches. Around 25mm of rain fell on the range on the 15/07. Upwards of 30cm fell with strong Southwest winds overnight on the 24/07. During the down pour the freezing level dropped to around 1500m leaving cold, dry snow above 1600m and wet snow below this level. A further 10cm fell with light southwest winds 25/07. Possible buried Surface Hoar was found within the latest storm snow.

Snow quality

Multiple small Wind Slabs triggered with explosives control across the range, 26/07. Small Loose Wet reported at Mt Olympus, WSW Aspect, 1800m.

Weather

Wednesday: Mainly fine, with severe morning frosts. Westerly winds rising to gale in the morning. Freezing level 2200m.Thursday: Periods of rain, some heavy about the Divide. Snow lowering to 1400m. Strong Northwest winds rising to gale in the morning. Freezing level 2200m lowering to 1500m about the divide in the evening.

European Avalanche Danger Scale

Official scale used by European avalanche warning services.

5 — Very high
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is poorly bonded and largely unstable in general.
Likelihood of triggering
Numerous very large and often extremely large natural avalanches can be expected, even in moderately steep terrain.
4 — High
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is poorly bonded on most steep slopes.
Likelihood of triggering
Triggering is likely, even from low additional loads, on many steep slopes. In some cases, numerous large and often very large natural avalanches can be expected.
3 — Considerable
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is moderately to poorly bonded on many steep slopes.
Likelihood of triggering
Triggering is possible, even from low additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. In certain situations some large, and in isolated cases very large natural avalanches are possible.
2 — Moderate
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is only moderately well bonded on some steep slopes; otherwise well bonded in general.
Likelihood of triggering
Triggering is possible, primarily from high additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. Very large natural avalanches are unlikely.
1 — Low
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is well bonded and stable in general.
Likelihood of triggering
Triggering is generally possible only from high additional loads in isolated areas of very steep, extreme terrain. Only small and medium natural avalanches are possible.

Avalanche problems

Typical problem types defined by EAWS.

New snow
The avalanche problem is related to current or most recent snowfall. The amount of additional loading by new snow onto the existing snowpack is the crucial factor of the new snow problem. How critical the loading is, depends on various factors such as air temperature, wind or characteristics of the old snow surface.
Wind slab
Wind slabs are formed when loose snow in near-surface layers (new snow or old snow) is transported and deposited by wind.
Persistent weak layers
The avalanche problem is related to the presence of one or more persistent weak layers in the old snowpack. These weak layers typically include faceted crystals, depth hoar or surface hoar crystals.
Wet snow
The avalanche problem is related to a weakening of the snowpack due to the presence of liquid water. Water infiltrates the snowpack due to melt or rain.
Gliding snow
The entire snowpack is gliding on the ground, typically on smooth ground such as grassy slopes or smooth rock zones. High activity of glide-snow avalanches is typically related to a thick snowpack with no or only few weak layers. Glide-snow avalanches can occur both with a cold dry snowpack and with a warm moist or wet snowpack. The release of a glide-snow avalanche is difficult to predict, although in many cases glide cracks open prior to release.
Cornices
A wave-like formation of soft or hard wind drifted snow, often overhanging.