Nock Mountains

Strong northerly foehn forms prone to triggering wind slabs

Strong northerly foehn forms prone to triggering wind slabs

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and moderate below. Slab avalanches can be triggered very easily by individuals in some places and can reach medium size. Take particular care near transitions from little to more snow and in the blown-in entrance areas to steep gullies. The freshly forming wind slab is easy to recognise and should be consistently avoided. A defensive choice of route is recommended.

The snow surface is strongly affected by the wind and is prone to triggering. Within the snowpack, bonded snow overlays soft, faceted layers, and in wind-protected, shady areas above around 2000 metres, surface hoar. Fractures occur either in soft layers near the surface or around the crust that forms the transition to the completely built-up old snow foundation. In general, areas with little snow alternate with sometimes considerable snowdrift accumulations in a confined space.

There will be no precipitation on Saturday night, but the wind will remain strong in places. During the day, the wind will pick up again and blow from the north-west at 40 to 70 km/h, even higher on the main Tauern ridge. A few centimetres of new fallen snow in the Tauern area, in the Nockberge at most isolated, unproductive showers. Around -4 degrees at 2000 metres.

Unchanged tricky drift snow situation on Sunday.