Snowy Mountains · backcountry conditions

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

Generated Tue 18 Aug 2026, 21:00 (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 2026-08-18 (today)
Dividing Range: report 2026-08-18 (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 0.4° at 19:20 · thawed yesterday, no refreeze — wet pack overnight

Thredbo Top Station 1957 m

11 min ago

1.0° ▼0.6°/3h feels -6° · 24 N (32 g) km/h ▲9/3h · 81% RH · 0.0 mm since 9am

Perisher Valley 1738 m

11 min ago

1.2° ▼2.1°/3h feels -2° · 4 N (7 g) km/h ▼2/3h · 93% RH · 0.0 mm since 9am

Cabramurra 1482 m

11 min ago

4.4° ▼1.8°/3h feels -3° · 28 NE (37 g) km/h ▲17/3h · 85% RH · 0.0 mm since 9am

Thredbo Village 1380 m · Non-AWS

30 h ago

7.3° feels 5° · 4 S (? g) km/h · 70% 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 2250–2370 m

freezing level 2250–2370 m · 0.04 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout, rain on snow, wet-loose warming (high)

⚠ models diverge: cloud 72 vs 100% (best-match vs ICON) — trust those numbers less

1890 m · loads NE · board for 2026-08-19 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -1° -4° 3 N 20 2.8k 1 0.0 0.0 2370
07:00 -1° -4° 4 N 21 5.1k 9 0.0 0.0 2330
08:00 -1° 5 NW 25 7.4k 26 0.0 0.0 2290
09:00 7 NW 29 8.7k 55 0.0 0.0 2320
10:00 11 WNW 37 10.6k 84 0.0 0.0 2300
11:00 16 NW 54 6.8k 69 0.0 0.0 2250
12:00 18 NW 59 3.1k 72 0.0 0.0 2320
13:00 18 NW 60 3.8k 71 0.3 0.0 2340
14:00 15 NW 52 5.2k 92 0.6 0.0 2310
15:00 15 NW 47 7.2k 96 0.4 0.0 2290
16:00 -1° 11 WNW 47 6.4k 100 0.3 0.0 2310
17:00 -1° 12 WNW 45 1.0k 100 0.6 0.0 2340
18:00 -1° 12 WNW 46 0.4k 100 0.5 0.0 2270

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 400 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: 0.6 mm at 4.7 °C; freezing level 2310 m — the signature AU hazard. Rapid strength loss, wet slides, runnels; treat steep slopes with suspicion and watch for pinwheels/roller-balls.

▲ wet-loose warming — high severity

warming -1→5.3 °C through the day — wet-loose / point-release on sun-warmed N/NW/W aspects. Tour early, be off steep solar slopes by early afternoon.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 1 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Charlotte Pass

freezing 2240–2350 m

freezing level 2240–2350 m · 0.06 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout, rain on snow, wet-loose warming (high)

⚠ models diverge: cloud 72 vs 100% (best-match vs ICON) — trust those numbers less

1760 m · loads NE · board for 2026-08-19 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -1° -5° 10 WNW 26 70.1k 1 0.0 0.0 2260
07:00 -1° -5° 11 WNW 28 70.0k 9 0.0 0.0 2240
08:00 -1° 10 WNW 29 77.1k 8 0.0 0.0 2280
09:00 9 NW 30 15.1k 47 0.0 0.0 2270
10:00 14 NW 37 12.5k 88 0.0 0.0 2340
11:00 19 NW 54 12.9k 69 0.0 0.0 2320
12:00 23 NW 60 10.2k 72 0.0 0.0 2270
13:00 22 NW 62 7.7k 71 0.1 0.0 2250
14:00 17 NW 61 7.9k 89 0.3 0.0 2270
15:00 14 NW 45 9.4k 99 0.3 0.0 2270
16:00 10 NW 45 2.5k 100 0.3 0.0 2270
17:00 -1° 11 WNW 38 3.1k 100 0.5 0.0 2300
18:00 -2° 12 NW 40 0.8k 100 0.5 0.0 2350

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 820 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: 0.5 mm at 2.3 °C; freezing level 2300 m — the signature AU hazard. Rapid strength loss, wet slides, runnels; treat steep slopes with suspicion and watch for pinwheels/roller-balls.

▲ wet-loose warming — high severity

warming -0.8→5.9 °C through the day — wet-loose / point-release on sun-warmed N/NW/W aspects. Tour early, be off steep solar slopes by early afternoon.

derived weather signals, NOT an official avalanche forecast

Source: open-meteo/best-match · fetched 1 min ago · forecast (FCST), not measured. Check it: raw forecast · raw ICON · Windy here

Dead Horse Gap / Rams Head

freezing 2250–2370 m

freezing level 2250–2370 m · 0.01 m base · derived flags: rain on snow, wet-loose warming (high)

✓ models agree (best-match + ICON)

1580 m · loads SE · board for 2026-08-19 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -3° 12 NW 29 69.2k 1 0.0 0.0 2260
07:00 -3° 12 NW 31 72.3k 7 0.0 0.0 2250
08:00 13 NW 34 76.4k 6 0.0 0.0 2290
09:00 14 NW 37 17.9k 42 0.0 0.0 2290
10:00 17 NW 44 14.2k 87 0.0 0.0 2320
11:00 20 NW 52 13.9k 87 0.0 0.0 2310
12:00 24 NW 60 19.9k 75 0.0 0.0 2270
13:00 25 NW 63 10.3k 54 0.1 0.0 2280
14:00 20 NW 62 8.5k 94 0.6 0.0 2280
15:00 15 NW 47 9.3k 99 0.2 0.0 2280
16:00 10 NW 42 2.1k 100 0.3 0.0 2300
17:00 11 NW 37 3.4k 100 0.6 0.0 2340
18:00 13 NW 39 1.2k 100 0.6 0.0 2370

▲ rain on snow — high severity

rain-on-snow: 0.6 mm at 5.4 °C; freezing level 2280 m — the signature AU hazard. Rapid strength loss, wet slides, runnels; treat steep slopes with suspicion and watch for pinwheels/roller-balls.

▲ wet-loose warming — high severity

warming 0.7→6.8 °C through the day — wet-loose / point-release on sun-warmed N/NW/W aspects. Tour early, be off steep solar slopes by early afternoon.

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 2240–2350 m

freezing level 2240–2350 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: rain on snow, wet-loose warming (high)

⚠ models diverge: temp 8.5 vs 5.2 °C (best-match vs ICON) — trust those numbers less

1640 m · loads NE · board for 2026-08-19 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -4° 9 W 27 2.1k 1 0.0 0.0 2260
07:00 -4° 10 W 28 63.2k 16 0.0 0.0 2240
08:00 11 W 30 75.6k 5 0.0 0.0 2280
09:00 10 WNW 33 20.7k 38 0.0 0.0 2270
10:00 18 NW 49 16.6k 76 0.0 0.0 2340
11:00 23 NW 61 14.4k 52 0.0 0.0 2320
12:00 24 NW 63 9.2k 85 0.0 0.0 2270
13:00 23 NW 64 7.0k 88 0.1 0.0 2250
14:00 20 NW 60 6.4k 93 0.3 0.0 2270
15:00 17 NW 48 9.4k 100 0.3 0.0 2270
16:00 12 NW 48 9.9k 100 0.1 0.0 2270
17:00 11 WNW 44 3.3k 100 0.3 0.0 2300
18:00 13 WNW 44 1.4k 100 0.4 0.0 2350

▲ rain on snow — high severity

rain-on-snow: 0.3 mm at 7.2 °C; freezing level 2270 m — the signature AU hazard. Rapid strength loss, wet slides, runnels; treat steep slopes with suspicion and watch for pinwheels/roller-balls.

▲ wet-loose warming — high severity

warming -0.3→8.5 °C through the day — wet-loose / point-release on sun-warmed N/NW/W aspects. Tour early, be off steep solar slopes by early afternoon.

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 2250–2370 m

freezing level 2250–2370 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout, wet-loose warming (high)

⚠ models diverge: cloud 61 vs 100% (best-match vs ICON) — trust those numbers less

2228 m · loads E · board for 2026-08-19 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -2° -6° 5 NNE 35 11.5k 2 0.0 0.0 2260
07:00 -2° -6° 6 NNE 37 12.1k 5 0.0 0.0 2250
08:00 -3° 8 NNW 40 8.5k 30 0.0 0.0 2290
09:00 -2° 11 NW 45 9.3k 63 0.0 0.0 2290
10:00 -2° 13 NW 49 11.1k 92 0.0 0.0 2320
11:00 -2° 16 NW 58 13.4k 82 0.0 0.0 2310
12:00 -2° 19 NW 62 3.5k 61 0.0 0.0 2270
13:00 -2° 20 NW 66 4.2k 71 0.3 0.0 2280
14:00 -2° 17 NNW 66 5.2k 91 0.6 0.0 2280
15:00 -3° 16 NW 60 6.8k 97 0.5 0.0 2280
16:00 -3° 12 NW 60 0.4k 100 0.4 0.0 2300
17:00 -4° 12 NW 59 0.6k 100 0.8 0.0 2340
18:00 -4° 11 NW 58 0.4k 100 0.7 0.0 2370

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 360 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

▲ wet-loose warming — watch severity

warming -2.4→3 °C through the day — wet-loose / point-release on sun-warmed N/NW/W aspects. Tour early, be off steep solar slopes by early afternoon.

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 2240–2350 m

freezing level 2240–2350 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: rain on snow, wet-loose warming (high)

⚠ models diverge: temp 8.5 vs 5.2 °C (best-match vs ICON) — trust those numbers less

1720 m · loads E · board for 2026-08-19 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -4° 9 W 27 2.1k 1 0.0 0.0 2260
07:00 -4° 10 W 28 63.2k 16 0.0 0.0 2240
08:00 11 W 30 75.6k 5 0.0 0.0 2280
09:00 10 WNW 33 20.7k 38 0.0 0.0 2270
10:00 18 NW 49 16.6k 76 0.0 0.0 2340
11:00 23 NW 61 14.4k 52 0.0 0.0 2320
12:00 24 NW 63 9.2k 85 0.0 0.0 2270
13:00 23 NW 64 7.0k 88 0.1 0.0 2250
14:00 20 NW 60 6.4k 93 0.3 0.0 2270
15:00 17 NW 48 9.4k 100 0.3 0.0 2270
16:00 12 NW 48 9.9k 100 0.1 0.0 2270
17:00 11 WNW 44 3.3k 100 0.3 0.0 2300
18:00 13 WNW 44 1.4k 100 0.4 0.0 2350

▲ rain on snow — high severity

rain-on-snow: 0.3 mm at 7.2 °C; freezing level 2270 m — the signature AU hazard. Rapid strength loss, wet slides, runnels; treat steep slopes with suspicion and watch for pinwheels/roller-balls.

▲ wet-loose warming — high severity

warming -0.3→8.5 °C through the day — wet-loose / point-release on sun-warmed N/NW/W aspects. Tour early, be off steep solar slopes by early afternoon.

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 2220–2330 m

freezing level 2220–2330 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout, wet-loose warming (high)

⚠ models diverge: cloud 61 vs 100% (best-match vs ICON) — trust those numbers less

2100 m · loads E · board for 2026-08-19 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -1° -4° 5 NNE 35 11.5k 2 0.0 0.0 2310
07:00 -1° -4° 6 NNE 37 12.1k 5 0.0 0.0 2280
08:00 -2° 8 NNW 40 8.5k 30 0.0 0.0 2320
09:00 11 NW 45 9.3k 63 0.0 0.0 2310
10:00 13 NW 49 11.1k 92 0.0 0.0 2330
11:00 16 NW 58 13.4k 82 0.0 0.0 2300
12:00 19 NW 62 3.5k 61 0.0 0.0 2290
13:00 -1° 20 NW 66 4.2k 71 0.3 0.0 2260
14:00 17 NNW 66 5.2k 91 0.6 0.0 2230
15:00 -1° 16 NW 60 6.8k 97 0.5 0.0 2220
16:00 -2° 12 NW 60 0.4k 100 0.4 0.0 2220
17:00 -2° 12 NW 59 0.6k 100 0.8 0.0 2270
18:00 -2° 11 NW 58 0.4k 100 0.7 0.0 2320

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 360 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

▲ wet-loose warming — watch severity

warming -0.8→4.6 °C through the day — wet-loose / point-release on sun-warmed N/NW/W aspects. Tour early, be off steep solar slopes by early afternoon.

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 2250–2370 m

freezing level 2250–2370 m · 0.00 m base · derived flags: poor visibility / whiteout, wet-loose warming (high)

⚠ models diverge: cloud 61 vs 100% (best-match vs ICON) — trust those numbers less

2050 m · loads E · board for 2026-08-19 · 06:00-18:00 local

hour temp chill wind dir gust vis cloud precip snow frz.lvl
06:00 -4° 5 NNE 35 11.5k 2 0.0 0.0 2260
07:00 -4° 6 NNE 37 12.1k 5 0.0 0.0 2250
08:00 -1° 8 NNW 40 8.5k 30 0.0 0.0 2290
09:00 11 NW 45 9.3k 63 0.0 0.0 2290
10:00 13 NW 49 11.1k 92 0.0 0.0 2320
11:00 16 NW 58 13.4k 82 0.0 0.0 2310
12:00 19 NW 62 3.5k 61 0.0 0.0 2270
13:00 20 NW 66 4.2k 71 0.3 0.0 2280
14:00 17 NNW 66 5.2k 91 0.6 0.0 2280
15:00 16 NW 60 6.8k 97 0.5 0.0 2280
16:00 -1° 12 NW 60 0.4k 100 0.4 0.0 2300
17:00 -2° 12 NW 59 0.6k 100 0.8 0.0 2340
18:00 -2° 11 NW 58 0.4k 100 0.7 0.0 2370

▲ poor visibility / whiteout — high severity

poor — visibility 360 m (<1 km) — navigation + terrain assessment hard; whiteout is a leading AU rescue cause. Carry a compass/GPS bearing plan and known bail lines.

▲ wet-loose warming — watch severity

warming -0.5→4.9 °C through the day — wet-loose / point-release on sun-warmed N/NW/W aspects. Tour early, be off steep solar slopes by early afternoon.

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.