Nock Mountains

Small danger zones due to freshly generated snowdrifts

Small danger zones due to freshly generated snowdrifts

Avalanche danger is low. Due to fresh fallen snow and stormy winds, the fresh snowdrift masses (which can often be unleashed by one single person) are triggerable. Avalanches will be small-sized. Danger zones occur in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, especially on N-E-S facing slopes. Also in zones distant from ridgelines, small snowdrifts can be prone to triggering. During the course of the day, isolated small loose-snow slides are possible in sunny, steep, rocky and rough terrain. Avalanche prone locations in outlying terrain are often only barely covered. The risks of falling and sustaining injuries need to be considered.

Due to storm winds, fresh snowdrifts are accumulating. These lie deposited on bare ground to some extent atop a slightly moistened old snowpack surface and are bonding well with these surfaces. Inside the snowdrifts, soft layers can be deposited which are temporarily prone to triggering. In general, there is still little snow on the ground, and due to stormy winds it is distributed irregularly.

On Friday night, particularly in the early part of the night, snow showers will pass through. The rainfall level will lie at about 1100m. Most of the fresh fallen snow will arrive between Hochkönig and Gosaukamm (20-30cm), in the Tauern about 10-15cm. Stormy winds from the northwest will prevail far-reachingly through the night, slackening off in the morning. Saturday will start sunny, high-altitude cloudbanks will dampen the sunshine somewhat. Clouds will then become heavier in the morning hours. In the afternoon, isolated snowflakes can be expected to fall, temperatures will rise. At 2000m from -2 to +2 degrees; at 3000m: from -7 to -3 degrees.

Hardly any change in avalanche danger levels is expected. The snow is settling and weak layer are slowly deteriorating.