An avalanche event in the seasonal snow zone of the mount cook region, New Zealand

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Abstract
The occurrence of avalanches in New Zealand's seasonal snow zone has only recently been appreciated. Such an avalanche event on the fianks of the Mount Cook and Sealy Ranges is described. Fourteen avalanches of the wet loose snow type transporred an estimated 200 × 103 m3 of water to the valley floor during the event. The morphometric characteristics of the avalanches are assessed and their magnitude compared with overseas exarnples. Weather conditions during two consecutive storms which led to the avalanching are described in detail. It is concluded that the avalanches were produced during heavy precipitation by overloading of previous falls of rimed needle snow. The large fiuctuations of atmospheric freezing during the two storms played an important role in reducing snow strength.

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