Nock Mountains

Trigger-sensitive drifts due to stormy S/W winds

Trigger-sensitive drifts due to stormy S/W winds

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh drifts cna be triggered as small-to-medium slab avalanches by 1 person on NW/N/SE facing slopes. Danger zones occur in gullies, bowls and behind discontinuities, near to and distant from ridges. Frequency and size of danger zones increase swiftly with ascending altitude. Up to 2800 m glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally at any time of day on very steep slopes with smooth ground surfaces. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

On Sunday night, the fresh snow settled somewhat amid rising temperatures (sink-in depths 10-15 cm) and the proneness to triggering has receded. Weak layers are evident inside the fresh fallen snow wherever snowdrifts lie deposited on top of fresh snow. In some places, surface hoar has been blanketed over. Crusts and faceted layers lurk in the old snowpack on shady slopes, as tests confirm. The snowpack is highly irregular, making weak layers small. The warm ground is making the entire snowpack glide downhill over smooth ground.

On Wednesday night minor showers in the Northern Alps, snowfall level at 1600-1200m. During the daytime on Thursday, mostly dry, intermittent sunshine and better visibility. The W winds will be moderate to brisk (40 km/hr), strong-to-stormy in the Northern Alps. At 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 3000 m: -10 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.