Snowy Mountains · backcountry conditions

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

Generated Wed 19 Aug 2026, 19:00 (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 2026-08-19 (today)
Dividing Range: report 2026-08-19 (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 2.5° at 18:20 · thawed yesterday, no refreeze — wet pack overnight

Thredbo Top Station 1957 m

11 min ago

2.6° ▲0.1°/3h feels -14° · 80 NNW (95 g) km/h ▲19/3h · 98% RH · 0.0 mm since 9am

Perisher Valley 1738 m

11 min ago

4.5° ▼1.3°/3h feels -1° · 19 W (50 g) km/h ▲13/3h · 87% RH · 0.0 mm since 9am

Cabramurra 1482 m

11 min ago

6.5° ▼1.8°/3h feels 0° · 28 NNW (37 g) km/h →0/3h · 96% RH · 0.0 mm since 9am

Thredbo Village 1380 m · Non-AWS

4 h ago

9.4° →0.0°/4h feels 7° · 6 SW (? g) km/h →0/4h · 62% RH · 0.0 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 2410–2550 m

freezing level 2410–2550 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 -2° 18 WNW 59 0.4k 100 1.3 0.0 2550
07:00 -1° 13 NW 56 0.3k 100 1.1 0.0 2550
08:00 10 WNW 46 0.5k 100 1.0 0.0 2460
09:00 7 NW 37 0.3k 100 0.8 0.0 2440
10:00 8 WNW 33 0.6k 100 0.7 0.0 2410
11:00 7 W 34 2.5k 100 1.4 0.0 2490
12:00 8 WNW 33 3.6k 100 1.1 0.0 2480
13:00 11 WNW 42 0.8k 100 2.5 0.0 2530
14:00 11 NW 42 0.7k 100 3.8 0.0 2490
15:00 -1° 13 NW 45 0.3k 100 2.7 0.0 2430
16:00 -2° 20 WNW 59 0.6k 100 1.3 0.0 2410
17:00 -2° 15 WNW 57 0.5k 100 1.2 0.0 2410
18:00 -2° 17 WNW 54 0.4k 100 1.6 0.0 2410

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 260 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: 3.8 mm at 2.7 °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

Charlotte Pass

freezing 2410–2550 m

0.1 cm new snow · freezing level 2410–2550 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 56 2.5k 100 0.8 0.0 2550
07:00 -2° 21 WNW 55 1.0k 100 0.7 0.0 2550
08:00 -2° 22 WNW 56 2.0k 100 0.6 0.0 2460
09:00 -1° 19 NW 53 2.1k 100 0.4 0.0 2440
10:00 -1° 19 NW 48 0.6k 100 0.3 0.0 2410
11:00 17 WNW 48 6.0k 100 0.5 0.0 2490
12:00 17 WNW 45 7.0k 100 0.3 0.0 2480
13:00 18 WNW 47 2.9k 100 0.9 0.0 2530
14:00 15 WNW 47 2.2k 100 1.8 0.0 2490
15:00 -2° 14 WNW 40 1.1k 100 2.6 0.1 2430
16:00 -2° 21 WNW 53 1.1k 100 1.2 0.0 2410
17:00 -2° 16 WNW 52 3.7k 100 1.0 0.0 2410
18:00 -2° 18 WNW 49 1.5k 100 1.3 0.0 2410

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 600 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: 2.6 mm at 2.1 °C; freezing level 2430 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 2430–2550 m

0.1 cm new snow · freezing level 2430–2550 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout (high)

✓ models agree (best-match + ICON)

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° 19 WNW 54 1.5k 100 0.8 0.0 2550
07:00 -1° 21 NW 55 0.8k 100 0.6 0.0 2540
08:00 -1° 23 NW 58 2.1k 100 0.4 0.0 2440
09:00 21 NW 56 12.5k 100 0.2 0.0 2430
10:00 21 NW 53 2.0k 100 0.1 0.0 2450
11:00 21 NW 53 5.6k 100 0.3 0.0 2490
12:00 20 NW 52 7.4k 100 0.2 0.0 2470
13:00 21 NW 54 2.1k 100 0.7 0.0 2540
14:00 17 NW 52 2.3k 100 1.5 0.0 2500
15:00 -1° 14 WNW 44 0.7k 100 2.7 0.1 2450
16:00 -1° 18 WNW 49 0.5k 100 1.2 0.0 2430
17:00 16 WNW 48 4.1k 100 0.8 0.0 2430
18:00 -1° 18 WNW 50 1.3k 100 1.1 0.0 2460

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 500 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 2410–2550 m

freezing level 2410–2550 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout, wind loading (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 -1° 25 WNW 70 1.1k 100 0.5 0.0 2550
07:00 -1° 24 WNW 71 0.6k 100 0.5 0.0 2550
08:00 22 WNW 65 1.2k 100 0.5 0.0 2460
09:00 19 WNW 58 0.6k 100 0.5 0.0 2440
10:00 17 WNW 52 0.8k 100 0.3 0.0 2410
11:00 15 WNW 49 1.6k 100 0.4 0.0 2490
12:00 17 WNW 47 6.8k 100 0.4 0.0 2480
13:00 18 WNW 51 1.8k 100 1.1 0.0 2530
14:00 16 WNW 51 1.6k 100 2.2 0.0 2490
15:00 17 WNW 49 1.1k 100 2.3 0.0 2430
16:00 -1° 26 WNW 71 1.3k 100 0.8 0.0 2410
17:00 -1° 22 WNW 70 3.0k 100 1.1 0.0 2410
18:00 -1° 22 WNW 62 1.7k 100 1.2 0.0 2410

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 560 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

▲ wind loading — watch severity

WNW wind at 25.5 km/h loads NE lee aspects — fresh wind-slab/cornices; avoid NE-facing convex rolls and lee bowls.

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 2430–2550 m

freezing level 2430–2550 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 -4° 16 NW 69 0.4k 100 1.5 0.0 2550
07:00 -4° 12 NW 64 0.4k 100 1.2 0.0 2540
08:00 -3° 10 NW 56 0.9k 100 0.8 0.0 2440
09:00 -3° 9 NNW 50 1.2k 100 0.6 0.0 2430
10:00 -2° 9 NNW 47 0.8k 100 0.6 0.0 2450
11:00 -2° 8 NW 47 4.3k 100 1.0 0.0 2490
12:00 -2° 9 NW 44 3.9k 100 0.8 0.0 2470
13:00 -2° 10 NW 51 0.6k 100 2.1 0.0 2540
14:00 -3° 8 NNW 48 1.6k 100 3.0 0.0 2500
15:00 -4° 10 NW 49 0.5k 100 2.9 0.0 2450
16:00 -4° 16 NW 63 1.2k 100 1.4 0.0 2430
17:00 -4° 14 NW 62 1.4k 100 1.1 0.0 2430
18:00 -5° 14 NW 60 0.5k 100 1.5 0.0 2460

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 440 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 2410–2550 m

freezing level 2410–2550 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout, wind loading (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 -1° 25 WNW 70 1.1k 100 0.5 0.0 2550
07:00 -1° 24 WNW 71 0.6k 100 0.5 0.0 2550
08:00 22 WNW 65 1.2k 100 0.5 0.0 2460
09:00 19 WNW 58 0.6k 100 0.5 0.0 2440
10:00 17 WNW 52 0.8k 100 0.3 0.0 2410
11:00 15 WNW 49 1.6k 100 0.4 0.0 2490
12:00 17 WNW 47 6.8k 100 0.4 0.0 2480
13:00 18 WNW 51 1.8k 100 1.1 0.0 2530
14:00 16 WNW 51 1.6k 100 2.2 0.0 2490
15:00 17 WNW 49 1.1k 100 2.3 0.0 2430
16:00 -1° 26 WNW 71 1.3k 100 0.8 0.0 2410
17:00 -1° 22 WNW 70 3.0k 100 1.1 0.0 2410
18:00 -1° 22 WNW 62 1.7k 100 1.2 0.0 2410

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 560 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

▲ wind loading — watch severity

WNW wind at 25.5 km/h loads E lee aspects — fresh wind-slab/cornices; avoid E-facing convex rolls and lee bowls.

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 2380–2560 m

freezing level 2380–2560 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 -2° 16 NW 69 0.4k 100 1.5 0.0 2560
07:00 -2° 12 NW 64 0.4k 100 1.2 0.0 2550
08:00 -1° 10 NW 56 0.9k 100 0.8 0.0 2460
09:00 -1° 9 NNW 50 1.2k 100 0.6 0.0 2440
10:00 9 NNW 47 0.8k 100 0.6 0.0 2400
11:00 8 NW 47 4.3k 100 1.0 0.0 2510
12:00 9 NW 44 3.9k 100 0.8 0.0 2510
13:00 10 NW 51 0.6k 100 2.1 0.0 2520
14:00 -1° 8 NNW 48 1.6k 100 3.0 0.0 2440
15:00 -2° 10 NW 49 0.5k 100 2.9 0.0 2420
16:00 -2° 16 NW 63 1.2k 100 1.4 0.0 2430
17:00 -2° 14 NW 62 1.4k 100 1.1 0.0 2400
18:00 -3° 14 NW 60 0.5k 100 1.5 0.0 2380

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 440 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 2430–2550 m

freezing level 2430–2550 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 -2° 16 NW 69 0.4k 100 1.5 0.0 2550
07:00 -2° 12 NW 64 0.4k 100 1.2 0.0 2540
08:00 -1° 10 NW 56 0.9k 100 0.8 0.0 2440
09:00 9 NNW 50 1.2k 100 0.6 0.0 2430
10:00 9 NNW 47 0.8k 100 0.6 0.0 2450
11:00 8 NW 47 4.3k 100 1.0 0.0 2490
12:00 9 NW 44 3.9k 100 0.8 0.0 2470
13:00 10 NW 51 0.6k 100 2.1 0.0 2540
14:00 -1° 8 NNW 48 1.6k 100 3.0 0.0 2500
15:00 -2° 10 NW 49 0.5k 100 2.9 0.0 2450
16:00 -2° 16 NW 63 1.2k 100 1.4 0.0 2430
17:00 -2° 14 NW 62 1.4k 100 1.1 0.0 2430
18:00 -2° 14 NW 60 0.5k 100 1.5 0.0 2460

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 440 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.