Nock Mountains

Prone to triggering wind slab and the weak old snowpack are difficult to recognise in the terrain.

Prone to triggering wind slab and the weak old snowpack are difficult to recognise in the terrain.

The avalanche risk is moderate above 2000 metres and low below that. Above around 2000 m, slab avalanches can be triggered in a few places, sometimes by individual winter sports enthusiasts, and can reach medium size if they tear through the old snowpack. Some of the avalanche prone locations are covered in snow and therefore difficult to recognise. Take particular care in the west, north and east aspects, especially in the snow-covered entrance areas to steep gullies and bowls, behind terrain edges and at the transition from little to more snow. Whumpfing collapsing sounds when stepping on the snowpack can indicate danger. In addition to the risk of burial, the risk of being swept away and falling should also be taken into account.

On a very varied old snow surface, there are local piles of fresh pillows of wind drifted snow, some of which are prone to triggering. Some of these are covered by soft new fallen snow. In general, there are often areas with little snow next to considerable snowdrift accumulations. Older snowdrift accumulations and the old snow surface are in places transformed and soft, in places hard as a board. The old snowpack consists of crusts with faceted crystals in between and deep rime. A break usually occurs around the uppermost crust. The total snow depth is well below average.

It will become increasingly soft during the night, with fog patches forming in the valleys. On Friday, sunshine will often predominate above the fog and high cloud fields will quickly move eastwards in the morning. Visibility is usually very good. The wind will be light to moderate from west to north at all altitudes. Temperatures at 2000 m at -5, at 3000 m around -10 degrees.

Hardly any decrease in avalanche danger. The weak layers in the snowpack remain prone to triggering.