Nock Mountains

Fresh snowdrift accumulations merit high caution

Fresh snowdrift accumulations merit high caution

Avalanche danger above 2000 m is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is MODERATE. Main danger: snowdrifts. Particularly on north-facing slopes, medium-sized avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading (1 person). Danger zones are difficult to recognize due to diffuse light, they occur primarly near ridgelines, in gullies, bowls. Danger zones and their likelihood of triggering increase with ascending altitude. Below 2400 m, furthermore, glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible. Avoid terrain below glide cracks.

The fresh, far-reaching snowdrift accumulations generated by the southerly foehn wind well into the day on Tuesday, will be deposited on a soft snowpack. Bonding of fresh snow to the snowfall of the weekend is poor, making the drifted masses prone to triggering. Where there is no wind, the drifts can be deposited on surface hoar which formed on Sunday night. The fresh snow from the weekend is bonding increasingly well with the old snowpack. On Friday a rain crust formed up to about 2500 m. The crusts are not trigger-sensitive except in unusual cases. Up to 2400 m the entire well bonded snowpack can glide downhill over grassy slopes or rock plates.

On Tuesday, visibility mostly adequate, deteriorating in the afternoon due to fog and snow showers. Only a small amount of snowfall is anticipated (5-10 cm). The southerly foehn wind will come to an end in the morning, also in the Tauern, hardly any wind is expected in the afternoon. Temperatures will drop slightly. At 2000 m: from -2 to -6 degrees.

The snowdrift problem will recede.