Updates to the NZ Avalanche Advisory ahead of Winter 2026
Over the summer, the NZ Mountain Safety Council team has been hard at work behind the scenes, delivering one of the largest upgrades to the NZ Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) website and professional Avalanche Safety Information Exchange (InfoEx) platforms in recent years. The updates focused on improving how users interact with forecasts, maps and observations, while also strengthening the systems that support avalanche forecasting across Aotearoa. Whether you’re checking your local forecast region, submitting a snowpack or avalanche observation, or subscribing for updates throughout the season, these changes aim to create a smoother and more connected experience across the NZAA platform.
Changes are rolling out from 11 May 2026 in preparation for the winter ahead. If you’re an NZAA user, the key updates you’ll notice are summarised below.
Confidence Statements
All forecasts will now include a ‘confidence statement’ to help users better understand the confidence or certainty we have in an avalanche forecast.
Confidence statements describe how certain the forecasters are in their assessment of the current avalanche conditions and how they may evolve over the forecast period.These statements reflect the strength and weight of evidence available — including the amount and quality of field observations, snowpack tests, weather station data, and public reports.
The data and observations available to the forecasting team to create a forecast can vary significantly from day to day. In some situations, forecasters may have access to a large volume of quality data and insights. At other times — particularly during storm cycles, periods of limited travel or in more remote regions — there may be less information available to build the forecast from. Each of these scenarios contribute to an elevated or reduced level of confidence, respectively.
Confidence is rated on a simple low–moderate–high scale and is accompanied by up to three key reasons that explain what is influencing the level of confidence. This provides greater transparency around the forecasting process and will add a new layer to help readers make more informed decisions before heading into the backcountry.
Confidence statements are used in operational forecasting (for commercial organisations such as heliskiing, ski fields or mountain guiding) around the world and in public forecasting by our friends at Avalanche Canada.
Upgraded Maps
The NZAA mapping system has been upgraded to the new LINZ Base map product, which is now the default map layer across the platform.
These updated maps provide improved accuracy, clarity and performance when viewing forecast regions or submitting public observations. For backcountry users, this means a more reliable and intuitive mapping experience, making it easier to identify terrain, locate observations and contribute information from the field.
Improved Public Observation Process
The public observation submission flow has also been updated, with a particular focus on improving how snowpack observations and snowpack tests are captured.
The revised question flow is designed to better reflect the tests and assessments users are carrying out in the backcountry, making it easier to submit accurate and useful information. These improvements will help strengthen the quality and consistency of observations shared with the avalanche community and forecasters throughout the season.
New Ways to Stay Connected With Us
A new subscriptions landing page will provide more ways for you to stay connected with the NZAA during the winter season.
You will be able to subscribe to alpine updates, receive notifications for your favourite forecast regions and stay informed when new public observations are submitted. These changes are designed to make it easier for users to receive the information that matters most to them, when they need it.
Increased Security
We’ve also implemented a range of security upgrades across the NZAA and InfoEx platforms to better protect user information and improve system resilience.
These improvements strengthen how subscriber and contact information is managed and stored across the platform. For more information, please refer to the updated privacy policy.
About NZAA and InfoEX
The NZAA is New Zealand’s official backcountry avalanche forecasting service managed by the NZ Mountain Safety Council. It provides avalanche forecasts for 13 backcountry regions across Aotearoa. This provides vital information to help backcountry users plan their trip and make safe decisions in avalanche terrain.
The InfoEx provides a platform for the exchange of technical snow, weather and avalanche information between organisations and commercial businesses that actively manage avalanche hazards during the winter months.
Find Out More About Avalanche Safety
- Learn avalanche safety basics | Watch MSC’s Avalanche Tips and Terms video series
- Take an avalanche course | Start with MSC’s online course and then get hands-on training
- Get the avalanche forecast | Check the NZ Avalanche Advisory before heading into the backcountry
PHOTO CREDIT | Bianca Bratton | Richardson mountains