Nock Mountains

Avoid snowdrift accumulations

Avoid snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger is moderate above 2000m. Small slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier in a few steep spots. Danger zones occur above 2200m esp. on NW/N/NE facing slopes, on occasion distant from ridgelines. Caution urged esp. at entry points into very steep gullies and bowls. During the course of the day, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches can be expected in extremely steep south-facing terrain below 2200m. On steep grass-covered slopes, isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible in isolated cases.

The snowpack surface is highly diverse. Southerly winds will transporte the fresh fallen snow (10cm) and generated new snowdrift accumulations which esp on shady slopes will be deposited atop soft layers. The (shallow) old snowpack is expansively metamorphosed at high and high-alpine altitudes, but hardly tends towards fracture propagation. On sunny slopes, melting forms dominate in the old snowpack.

During the nighttime hours, dense clouds and (as of midnight) increasing precipitation from the south, snowfall level at 1300m, 5-10cm of fresh snow anticipated. Up to 1600m rainfall is possible, hardly any wind. On Thursday, dry weather, sunshine will increase as the day unfolds. Brisk southerly winds, strengthening during the course of the day (afternoon: 70-80 km/hr in high-alpine terrain). At 2000m: -2 degrees; at 3000m: -8 degrees.

On Friday some new fallen snow, but little change anticipated