Nock Mountains

Generally favorable avalanche situation, isolated danger zones on shady slopes

Generally favorable avalanche situation, isolated danger zones on shady slopes

Avalanche danger is low. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations can be trigger a small slab avalanche in steep terrain by one sole skier and reach medium size where snow is sufficient. Danger zones occur esp. on NW/N/E facing slopes above 2000m. Danger zones often blanketed, making them difficult to recognize. Caution especially at entry points into very steep gullies and bowls. During the course of the day, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches are possible in all aspects, esp. in extremely steep south-facing terrain below 2800m, releases will be generally small-sized. On steep grass-covered slopes, very isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible.

The settled fresh snow has been deposited on steep shady slopes above 2400m atop an expansively metamorphosed snowpack which is prone to triggering in places. On sunny slopes and at lower altitudes, the bonding of fresh fallen snow to the old snowpack is generally good, the surface moistens during the daytime, forms a thin melt-freeze crust at night - not capable of bearing loads - and can forfeit bonding. The crust softens up during the daytime, the snowpack becomes superficially moist, forfeits its bonding.

Following a night of clear skies, sunshine and outstanding visibility on Sunday, a few cirrus clouds will be no disturbance. Winds moderate, gusts up to 50 km/hr from the south, in the Tauern up to 60-80 km/hr. At 2000m: -1 to +5 degrees; at 3000m: -2 degrees

On Sunday night, clouds will move in, only limited gain in snowpack firmness on south-facing slopes. Above 2000m a bit of fresh snow is expected, further down light rainfall, which will heighten the wet/gliding snow problem, esp. in the Tauern.