Nock Mountains

Caution: trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Caution: trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Fresh snowdrifts from Friday on E/S/W facing slopes are often prone to triggering, also distant from ridgelines with intensifying winds. Avalanches of small-to-medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading on very steep slopes. Danger zones occur esp. near ridgelines, in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. They are easily recognized with adequate visibility and should be circumvented. Superficial releases can in isolated cases fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and grow to larger size, particularly on shady slopes above 2200 m. These danger zones are not visible to the naked eye.

Amid moderate to strong northerly winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations were generated on Friday. They lie deposited on E/S/W facing leeward slopes atop soft layers and are prone to triggering in places. The fresh snow from last week has settled and consolidated well for the most part. In the Tauern there are isolated weak layers in the snowpack fundament, sometimes melt-freeze crusts, particularly on shady slopes at high altitudes.

On Monday morning, frequent sunshine, in the afternoon heavy cloud cover will move in. Towards evening snowfall will set in. As a cold front moves through, temperatures will drop, stormy northerly winds will intensify.

As a result of the cold front, snowfall by Tuesday morning, amid stormy winds: 5-10 cm. Winds will generate fresh, mostly small-sized snowdrift masses. No significant change is expected in avalanche danger levels.