Avalanche hits near Remarkables skifield

Three sniffer dogs, 40 searchers and three helicopters scoured an area on the far side of Lake Alta near The Remarkables skifield after a ski patroller spotted debris from an avalanche about 2.45pm.

NZSki chief executive James Coddington said there was an emergency response to ensure no one was caught in the avalanche.

Searchers probed the snow in the debris area with three metre-long poles to search for anyone who may be trapped.

The site was also checked for any ski or snowboard tracks in or out of the site.

At 6.45pm the "all clear" was given, Mr Coddington said.

As well as not locating anyone in the debris, Mr Coddington said there were no vehicles left in the Remarkables car park and there had been no reports of anyone missing.

The avalanche is believed to have been about 1.5m high, 80m wide and 100-120m long.