 WEATHER
WARNINGS |
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A HEAVY RAIN & GALEFORCE WIND WARNING is current for areas about and west of the Main Divide commencing late Saturday (25/05/2013) through to Sunday (26/05/2013). |
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A LOW LEVEL SNOW WATCH is current for areas about the Main Divide commencing Sunday (26/05/2013) through to Monday (27/05/2013). Snow is expected to lower to 800m during this storm cycle. |
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A GALEFORCE WIND WARNING is current for areas about and east of the Main Divide commencing late Saturday (25/05/2013) through to Sunday (26/05/2013). |
| Notes: |
Heavy Rain Warnings are issued if a storm might deliver in excess of 100mm of rain within 24hrs (or 50mm in 6hrs), please be aware rivers in Arthur's Pass will flood given only 20-30mm of rainfall.
Galeforce Wind Warnings are issued if a storm intensity may exceed 90km/h winds at 800m ASL.
Heavy/Low Level Snow Warnings are issued if a storm might deliver in excess of 10cm of snow at 900m ASL within 6hrs (or 25cm in 24hrs).
A Watch is displayed if a storm's intensity prediction hits a "Moderate" level of forecasters confidence.
| | Click Here for more detail storm analysis.
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| General Conditions & Avalanche Risk |
Sunday 26/05/2013:
Potential heavy rain with gales, snow lowering to 800m (presently 0800hrs snowing above 1900m); snow showers clearing late tomorrow.
Climbing conditions are Poor about the Main Range today with rain, gales, snow, and poor visibility about the tops. Beware of pockets of loose new snow on some routes. Some glacial routes are now cut-off by bergshrunds; crevasse fields have formed and fresh snow will shortly start weakly bridging these - rope up for glacial travel.
 12/05/2013 Carrington Peak (2010m)
 12/05/2013 Mt Armstrong (2110m)
 12/05/2013 Mt Lancelot (2112m)
 12/05/2013 Mt Philistine - Philistine Traverse (1967m) - top right
 12/05/2013 Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Crow Face
 12/05/2013 Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Upper Waimakariri Approaches
 11/05/2013 Mt Guinevere (2042m)
 10/05/2013 Avalanche Peak (1833m)
 10/05/2013 Mt Bealey (1836m)
 10/05/2013 Mt Philistine (1967m)
 10/05/2013 Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Bealey Face
 10/05/2013 Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Goldney Ridge
 10/05/2013 Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Rome Ridge
 10/05/2013 Mt Temple (1913m)
 10/05/2013 Phipps Peak (1965m)
 08/05/2013 Mt Murchison (2408m)
 01/05/2013 Blimit (1921m)
 01/05/2013 Mt Davie (2280m)
 01/05/2013 Mt Harper (2222m)
 01/05/2013 The Dome (1938m)
 07/04/2013 Mt Franklin (2145m)
 07/04/2013 Mt Oates (2041m)
 07/04/2013 Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Otira Face
 07/04/2013 Mt Williams (1718m) 
- Travel Advice: Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
- Avalanche Activity: Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.
More avalanche assessment detail - Click Here or visit www.avalanche.net.nz
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| Park Shot |
12/05/2013: Kelly Range - APNP
(photo provided by Helen Binnie with thanks)
Click Image to open larger original in a Javascript window.
Click Here if it won't open!
If you'd like to submit a (non-commercial) recent outdoor activity image for the "Park Shot" (Arthur's Pass, Craigieburn or Torlesse accepted - 800 pixels wide minimum) please email
Click Here for a summary of Copyright Issues. |
| Getting High |
11/05/2013: Olga traversing Jellicoe Ridge of Mt Guinevere (2042m) - APNP
(photo provided by Charlie Catt with thanks)
Click Image to open larger original in a Javascript window.
Click Here if it won't open!
If you'd like to submit a (non-commercial) recent mountaineering image for the "Getting High" photograph (images must contain climbers/trampers, and can be mountaineering/climbing from anywhere in the world - 800 pixels wide minimum) please email
Click Here for a summary of Copyright Issues. |
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| Park News |
- The Poulter Valley track between the Mt White Road and the Browns Creek (Park Boundary) has large washouts, foot and mountain bike access only (Note: Only enter the Poulter River in low flow conditions).
- Lower Otehake swing-bridge has been removed permanently by DOC!
- DOC has removed Locke Stream hut (Taramakau River) radio permanently.
- Edwards hut radio has been replaced with a VHF set, but communication is marginal.
- The lower Styx River route has severe damage - only accessible safely at low water (must cross).
- The "bad boys" are back Both in Arthur's & Lewis Pass areas - Vehicle breakins are common place at car parks / Park entry points, leave no valuables in vehicle or park vehicle securely elsewhere; notify Police of any suspicious activity (take registrations)!
- The Otehake Valley has severe damage (very slow going).
- POO POTS are great but they cannot be disposed of in the Arthur's Pass sewerage systems; also DO NOT put them in our waste bins; YOU CAN put them in long drop toilets at one of the campsites.
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| Local Weather Station Data |
LATEST DAILY READINGS
Update: 26/5/13 10:00hrs NZST
Sunrise: 7:50hrs
Sunset: 17:11hrs
Temperature: 7.1ºC
Wind Chill: 6.6ºC
Humidity: 100%
Barometer: 992.8mb (Falling)
Wind Speed: 4.8km/h
Wind Direction: WNW
Wind Gust: 88.5km/h (1:38hrs)
Cloud Base:
730m ASL
Freezing Level: 2122m
Rainfall: 13.72mm
Hourly High Rain Rate: 5.59mm/hr
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THIS STORM CYCLE (34hrs)
Rainfall: 21.09mm
High Rain Rate: 3.2mm/hr @ 9:21hrs 26/05/2013
Temp Low: 4.6ºC
Temp High: 9.3ºC
Wind Gust: 88.5kmph @ 1:38hrs 26/05/2013
Dom.Wind Dir: West
Barometer Low: 991.2mb
SNOW MODEL
Mt Rolleston (Goldney Ridge) 1800m
Snow Fall-Line: 2097m
Alt. Temp: 3.2ºC
Alt. Windspeed: 32.5kmph
Alt. Wind Chill: -2.5ºC
Storm Snowfall: 0.2cm
Snowfall Intensity: 0.3cm/hr
Snowpack Depth: 5.3cm
7 Day Snowfall: 4.4cm
Click Here for further snowfall data.
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Click Here to view full weather station details. |
| General Information |
- Waimak Flood Route: DoC has reinstated (and rerouted) the Waimakariri flood route from Anti-Crow River to Greenlaw Creek which was severely damaged in the 1994 earthquake. It still has some issues that may cause the waimak to cut it off!
- Huts:The New Hawdon Hut is located upstream of Discovery Creek confluence below Walker Pass incline. Sudden Valley, Pfeifer, Poulter & East Hawdon Bivouacs have also been replaced. Hallejulah, Thompson, Waterfall and Top Cox Bivouacs have been permanently removed. Upper Cox Hut has been removed. Mingha Biv is to remain, it will be maintained by the Coast to Coast Race.
- AP Club Huts: Please note that NO ONE in Arthur's Pass Village has the door codes or keys to the NZAC, CMC or WCAC club huts, please get them before your arrival!
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