Nock Mountains

Freshly generated and somewhat older snowdrift masses are still prone to triggering in places

Freshly generated and somewhat older snowdrift masses are still prone to triggering in places

Freshly formed snowdrift masses generated by northerly foehn winds - and also somewhat older snowdrift accumulations from last week - can be triggered even by one single winter sports enthusiast and in isolated cases grow to medium size. Danger zones are found on all aspects near ridgelines, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain and in gullies and bowls. North of the Mur, danger zones occur more frequently. The snowdrift accumulations are generally easy to recognize.

The overall snow depth: 20 - 60 cm. Since Friday: 10 to 15 cm of loose snow has been added. The snowpack layering in the still shallow snow cover is frequently unfavourable. The snow cover is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) nearly down to the ground, including embedded melt-freeze crusts. Near forested zones and in wind-protected areas the surface hoar has been blanketed by fresh snowfall. Fresh snow and drifts are being deposited atop this weak old snowpack surface, it is prone to triggering. The situation on sunny slopes is somewhat better, especially where the wind has generated a more irregular distribution of snow.

Monday: mostly sunshine in Tauern and Nockberge. Icy cold NW wind at high altitudes (up to 40 km/hr). At 2000 m: -11 degrees; at 3000 m: -19 degrees. Tuesday: mostly sunshine, high-altitude clouds will move in during the daytime, possibly hampering the sun. At high altitudes of the Tauern, southerly winds will reach speeds of 40 km/hr. At 2000 m: -10 degrees; at 3000 m: -13 degrees.

Snowdrift accumulations have been deposited atop persistent weak layers and will remain prone to triggering.