Avalanche warnings issued in South Island

Urgent avalanche warnings have been issued in South Island back-country areas after heavy snowfalls and several close calls involving skiers and snowboarders.

The warning was issued by the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) for Arthur's Pass, upper Rakaia, the Craigieburns, Fiordland and the Central Otago region.

MSC programme manager Steve Schreiber said although conditions were listed as moderate, there was real danger of being caught in a large avalanche due to the way the snowpack was structured.

"Yesterday a ski touring party triggered a size three avalanche, large enough to bury a car, outside the controlled ski area of Treble Cone. Similar events have occurred in the Arrowsmiths, Olympus, Crystal Valley near Porters, and Temple Basin," Mr Schreiber said.

He said travel should be restricted to low angle terrain well away from steep slopes above them.

"This is especially important with the onset of another storm cycle, which has already hit Fiordland."

Mr Schreiber said avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes should also be carried.

A snowboarder was partially buried in Anderson's Basin behind Cardrona this week and his party had no equipment.

"They were lucky as it could easily have ended with four deaths."

The avalanches have been caused by the heavy load from wet storm cycles in the last ten days, and the deterioration of shallow, early-season snowpack resulting in weak layers.

- NZPA