Nock Mountains

Pay heed to danger zones due to snowdrifts

Pay heed to danger zones due to snowdrifts

Avalanche danger is MODERATE above the treeline, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by 1 person in some places on NW/N/E/S facing slopes and release a slab, usually small sized, sometimes medium. Glide-snow avalanches are still a threat where snow is sufficient, most releases remain small. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

Atop a moistened snowpack, 10-20 cm of cold fresh snow is expected. The NW winds will transport it far-reachingly, generate new snowdrift accumulations. Fractures are possible both in the blanketed fresh snow and in a soft layer beneath the most recent melt-freeze crust snow (rain-ice crust or wind crust or melt-freeze crust).

Overnight there will be snowfall accompanied by strong-to-stormy W/NW winds, the snowfall level dropping from 1700 down to 1000 m. At 1500 m: +2 degrees; at 2000 m: -1 degree. On Thursday the peaks will be shrouded in clouds, reduced visibility, frequent snowfall (often heavy), but also interims. At 1500 m: -1 degree; at 2000 m: -2 degrees. The W/NW winds will reach 90 km/hr.

On Friday, the next warm front will pass through bringing heavy precipitation. Wet snow problem at low and intermediate altitudes, a treacherous slab situation at high altitudes.