Nock Mountains

Weak old snowpack with low snow cover

Weak old snowpack with low snow cover

The avalanche danger increases rapidly with altitude and is moderate above 2000 metres and low below. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by low additional loads and can be small to medium in size. Surface-triggered avalanches can tear through to the ground. Avalanche prone locations are concentrated in north-west to north to south-east orientated steep terrain. They increase rapidly in size and frequency with altitude, especially next to blown-off areas. Whumpfing collapsing sounds when walking on the snow cover, snowpack can indicate danger. At high altitudes, older wind slabs are sometimes still prone to triggering. Terrain traps are less full due to a lack of snow and are therefore more effective.

Under the influence of mild air and sunlight, the snow cover, snowpack has settled and become cardboardy up to around 2000 metres. In the early morning it has at least a thin melt-freeze crust, and up to around 1900 m it also has a crust of rain ice. The transition from fresh and older wind slab to old snowpack (faceted crystals on/under crust) usually serves as a weak layer. This consists of layers of faceted crystals, deep rime and melt-freeze crusts. The total snow depth is still well below average. The sunny slopes and the broad ridges are often completely blown off or covered in snow.

The sky will be starry during the night. It will remain foehn with a strong southerly wind in places. Tuesday will continue on the mountains with plenty of sunshine and very good visibility. In the typical Foehn corridors, the southerly foehn will still reach speeds of around 50 km/h, otherwise the wind will weaken considerably. At 2000 metres, temperatures will hover around 0 degrees in the north and -5 degrees in the south.

No significant change in avalanche danger.