Snowy Mountains · backcountry conditions

A data board, not a verdict. Every value carries its source — you make the call.

Generated Thu 20 Aug 2026, 15:30 (local)

Official avalanche hazard — human-required

This dashboard never computes or restates an avalanche danger rating. Read the Mountain Safety Collective report before entering backcountry terrain.

Main Range report 2026-08-20 (today)
Dividing Range: report 2026-08-20 (today)

MSC report →

Measured now — alpine AWS

OBS

BOM station observations, never blended with the forecast. Arrows: change vs the same station ~3 h ago (measured, no model). No sensor sits on the Main Range itself. Station names link to BOM's own obs pages.

Overnight at Thredbo Top Station: min 1.6° at 06:20 · thawed yesterday, no refreeze — wet pack overnight

Thredbo Top Station 1957 m

10 min ago

1.8° ▼0.6°/3h feels -11° · 59 NW (83 g) km/h ▲2/3h · 100% RH · 16.0 mm since 9am

Perisher Valley 1738 m

10 min ago

3.0° ▼1.4°/3h feels -2° · 17 W (43 g) km/h ▲4/3h · 97% RH · 10.6 mm since 9am

Cabramurra 1482 m

10 min ago

5.6° ▼0.6°/3h feels 0° · 26 WNW (37 g) km/h ▼2/3h · 100% RH · 0.2 mm since 9am

Thredbo Village 1380 m · Non-AWS

7 h ago

6.9° feels 5° · 6 S (? g) km/h · 88% RH · 21.0 mm since 9am

Base depth — Spencers Creek snow course (1830 m)

Canonical AU base-depth record (manual, ~weekly). No machine-readable value — open the chart. Measured below the ridge; there is no depth sensor on the Main Range itself.

chart →

Live wind map

animated · wind

Map by Windy.com · drag/zoom to explore; the marker sits on the Main Range.

Blue Lake

freezing 2310–2570 m

freezing level 2310–2570 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout, rain on snow (high)

✓ models agree (best-match + ICON)

1890 m · loads NE · board for 2026-08-20 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -1° 13 NW 60 0.6k 100 2.2 0.0 2510
07:00 -1° 9 NW 45 0.5k 100 1.1 0.0 2530
08:00 8 WNW 38 0.4k 100 1.4 0.0 2490
09:00 9 WNW 35 0.3k 100 1.8 0.0 2570
10:00 9 WNW 42 0.5k 100 0.6 0.0 2550
11:00 7 WNW 35 2.8k 100 0.5 0.0 2420
12:00 6 NW 32 5.2k 100 0.4 0.0 2420
13:00 7 NW 28 2.9k 100 1.1 0.0 2360
14:00 7 NW 30 3.2k 100 2.1 0.0 2390
15:00 -1° 12 WNW 39 1.7k 100 1.7 0.0 2310
16:00 -2° 16 WNW 49 0.7k 100 1.0 0.0 2360
17:00 -2° 16 WNW 51 0.3k 100 1.6 0.0 2410
18:00 -2° 14 WNW 49 0.3k 100 2.3 0.0 2490

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 300 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

▲ rain on snow — high severity

rain-on-snow: 2.2 mm at 2.6 °C; freezing level 2510 m — the signature AU hazard. Rapid strength loss, wet slides, runnels; treat steep slopes with suspicion and watch for pinwheels/roller-balls.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 0 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Charlotte Pass

freezing 2310–2570 m

freezing level 2310–2570 m · 0.02 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout, rain on snow (high)

✓ models agree (best-match + ICON)

1760 m · loads NE · board for 2026-08-20 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -2° 21 WNW 62 4.0k 100 1.2 0.0 2510
07:00 -2° 20 NW 53 1.5k 100 0.6 0.0 2530
08:00 -1° 15 NW 51 3.2k 100 0.8 0.0 2490
09:00 -1° 16 WNW 42 1.1k 100 1.0 0.0 2570
10:00 -1° 21 WNW 49 1.4k 100 0.3 0.0 2550
11:00 -1° 22 WNW 51 6.6k 100 0.2 0.0 2420
12:00 -1° 23 WNW 53 9.2k 100 0.3 0.0 2420
13:00 20 WNW 52 4.1k 100 0.4 0.0 2360
14:00 -1° 17 NW 47 3.4k 100 1.4 0.0 2390
15:00 -2° 15 WNW 43 3.8k 100 1.4 0.0 2310
16:00 -1° 12 WNW 41 0.7k 100 1.0 0.0 2360
17:00 -1° 14 WNW 40 0.8k 100 1.0 0.0 2410
18:00 -2° 16 WNW 45 0.8k 100 1.9 0.0 2490

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 680 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

▲ rain on snow — high severity

rain-on-snow: 1.9 mm at 2.3 °C; freezing level 2490 m — the signature AU hazard. Rapid strength loss, wet slides, runnels; treat steep slopes with suspicion and watch for pinwheels/roller-balls.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 0 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Dead Horse Gap / Rams Head

freezing 2320–2610 m

freezing level 2320–2610 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout (high)

⚠ models diverge: wind 25.6 vs 15.6 km/h (best-match vs ICON) — trust those numbers less

1580 m · loads SE · board for 2026-08-20 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -1° 21 NW 59 5.3k 100 0.9 0.0 2540
07:00 -1° 20 NW 55 2.7k 100 0.4 0.0 2510
08:00 18 NW 52 3.2k 100 0.7 0.0 2500
09:00 18 NW 48 4.4k 100 0.7 0.0 2610
10:00 23 NW 54 2.1k 100 0.1 0.0 2560
11:00 24 NW 58 6.0k 100 0.1 0.0 2450
12:00 26 NW 61 9.5k 100 0.3 0.0 2390
13:00 23 NW 60 4.2k 100 0.3 0.0 2390
14:00 18 NW 56 3.2k 100 1.6 0.0 2410
15:00 -1° 17 NW 46 3.7k 100 1.5 0.0 2320
16:00 13 NW 45 0.9k 100 1.1 0.0 2410
17:00 12 WNW 39 1.3k 100 1.1 0.0 2450
18:00 -1° 17 NW 48 1.8k 100 1.9 0.0 2500

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 920 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 0 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Guthega access

freezing 2310–2570 m

freezing level 2310–2570 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout (high)

✓ models agree (best-match + ICON)

1640 m · loads NE · board for 2026-08-20 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 23 WNW 71 1.8k 100 1.1 0.0 2510
07:00 20 WNW 63 1.4k 100 0.7 0.0 2530
08:00 14 WNW 55 2.1k 100 0.7 0.0 2490
09:00 16 WNW 48 0.9k 100 0.8 0.0 2570
10:00 21 WNW 54 1.0k 100 0.3 0.0 2550
11:00 23 WNW 59 6.7k 100 0.3 0.0 2420
12:00 24 WNW 63 7.7k 100 0.3 0.0 2420
13:00 20 WNW 60 4.0k 100 0.5 0.0 2360
14:00 18 WNW 53 3.7k 100 1.3 0.0 2390
15:00 16 WNW 48 2.5k 100 1.3 0.0 2310
16:00 17 WNW 48 1.0k 100 0.7 0.0 2360
17:00 20 WNW 55 1.2k 100 0.9 0.0 2410
18:00 19 WNW 59 1.5k 100 1.8 0.0 2490

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 880 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 0 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Main Range (Kosciuszko)

freezing 2320–2610 m

freezing level 2320–2610 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout (high)

✓ models agree (best-match + ICON)

2228 m · loads E · board for 2026-08-20 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -3° 11 NNW 66 0.8k 100 1.8 0.0 2540
07:00 -3° 10 NNW 55 0.6k 100 0.9 0.0 2510
08:00 -3° 8 NNW 52 0.7k 100 1.4 0.0 2500
09:00 -3° 8 NW 45 0.5k 100 1.6 0.0 2610
10:00 -2° 8 NNW 44 0.5k 100 0.6 0.0 2560
11:00 -2° 8 NNW 41 5.6k 100 0.4 0.0 2450
12:00 -2° 8 NNW 42 6.4k 100 0.5 0.0 2390
13:00 -2° 9 NNW 39 2.7k 100 0.9 0.0 2390
14:00 -3° 8 N 41 3.0k 100 2.1 0.0 2410
15:00 -4° 12 NW 51 3.5k 100 1.7 0.0 2320
16:00 -4° 14 NW 60 3.6k 100 1.2 0.0 2410
17:00 -4° 14 NW 60 0.4k 100 1.6 0.0 2450
18:00 -4° 14 NW 60 0.5k 100 2.3 0.0 2500

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 380 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 0 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Perisher access

freezing 2310–2570 m

freezing level 2310–2570 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout (high)

✓ models agree (best-match + ICON)

1720 m · loads E · board for 2026-08-20 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 23 WNW 71 1.8k 100 1.1 0.0 2510
07:00 20 WNW 63 1.4k 100 0.7 0.0 2530
08:00 14 WNW 55 2.1k 100 0.7 0.0 2490
09:00 16 WNW 48 0.9k 100 0.8 0.0 2570
10:00 21 WNW 54 1.0k 100 0.3 0.0 2550
11:00 23 WNW 59 6.7k 100 0.3 0.0 2420
12:00 24 WNW 63 7.7k 100 0.3 0.0 2420
13:00 20 WNW 60 4.0k 100 0.5 0.0 2360
14:00 18 WNW 53 3.7k 100 1.3 0.0 2390
15:00 16 WNW 48 2.5k 100 1.3 0.0 2310
16:00 17 WNW 48 1.0k 100 0.7 0.0 2360
17:00 20 WNW 55 1.2k 100 0.9 0.0 2410
18:00 19 WNW 59 1.5k 100 1.8 0.0 2490

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 880 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 0 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Watsons Crags

freezing 2280–2570 m

freezing level 2280–2570 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout (high)

✓ models agree (best-match + ICON)

2100 m · loads E · board for 2026-08-20 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -1° 11 NNW 66 0.8k 100 1.8 0.0 2530
07:00 -1° 10 NNW 55 0.6k 100 0.9 0.0 2540
08:00 -1° 8 NNW 52 0.7k 100 1.4 0.0 2500
09:00 -1° 8 NW 45 0.5k 100 1.6 0.0 2570
10:00 8 NNW 44 0.5k 100 0.6 0.0 2520
11:00 8 NNW 41 5.6k 100 0.4 0.0 2380
12:00 8 NNW 42 6.4k 100 0.5 0.0 2450
13:00 9 NNW 39 2.7k 100 0.9 0.0 2320
14:00 -1° 8 N 41 3.0k 100 2.1 0.0 2440
15:00 -2° 12 NW 51 3.5k 100 1.7 0.0 2280
16:00 -2° 14 NW 60 3.6k 100 1.2 0.0 2410
17:00 -2° 14 NW 60 0.4k 100 1.6 0.0 2400
18:00 -2° 14 NW 60 0.5k 100 2.3 0.0 2430

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 380 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 0 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Western Faces

freezing 2320–2610 m

freezing level 2320–2610 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout (high)

✓ models agree (best-match + ICON)

2050 m · loads E · board for 2026-08-20 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -1° 11 NNW 66 0.8k 100 1.8 0.0 2540
07:00 -1° 10 NNW 55 0.6k 100 0.9 0.0 2510
08:00 8 NNW 52 0.7k 100 1.4 0.0 2500
09:00 8 NW 45 0.5k 100 1.6 0.0 2610
10:00 8 NNW 44 0.5k 100 0.6 0.0 2560
11:00 8 NNW 41 5.6k 100 0.4 0.0 2450
12:00 8 NNW 42 6.4k 100 0.5 0.0 2390
13:00 9 NNW 39 2.7k 100 0.9 0.0 2390
14:00 8 N 41 3.0k 100 2.1 0.0 2410
15:00 -2° 12 NW 51 3.5k 100 1.7 0.0 2320
16:00 -2° 14 NW 60 3.6k 100 1.2 0.0 2410
17:00 -2° 14 NW 60 0.4k 100 1.6 0.0 2450
18:00 -2° 14 NW 60 0.5k 100 2.3 0.0 2500

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 380 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 0 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Cams

Perisher Valley

Community webcam (valley) · Webcam provided by Windy.com

Trailhead access

Road and park status change fast in the alpine — open these before you drive. Chain-fit and snow closures apply to Kosciuszko Rd and the Alpine Way in winter.

Road status: Transport for NSW Live Traffic (CC BY 4.0) · fetched 0 min ago

Daily reads — the humans who watch this mountain

human-authored sources — names, links and post dates only, never their content

Before you go

The morning read ends with the safety net, not just the weather. Chains must be carried in Kosciuszko NP in winter (4WD/AWD exempt); Kosciuszko Rd is closed Perisher→Charlotte Pass (oversnow only). The full pre-trip checklist lives in the repo (docs/FIELD-NOTES.md).

Source health

1 source(s) stale or unavailable

When each input last updated and whether this build reached it. link = human-required source we point to, never parse.