Nock Mountains

Poor visibility makes risk assessment on-site more difficult

Poor visibility makes risk assessment on-site more difficult

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Northerly winds will form fresh snowdrift accumulations in extended southern aspects during the day which can be triggered even by the weight of one sole skier with ascending altitude, but the releases will remain small. Isolated small-to-medium loose-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain are possible. In highly isolated cases, glide-snow avalanches are still possible in these lower temperatures.

The old snowpack is compact and moist/wet up to high altitudes. The fresh snow is bonding well with it. With increasing altitude, bonding of fresh snow/snowdrifts worsens. Fracture zones lie between the fresh snow masses and in high alpine region at the borderline to the old snow.

On Saturday, reduced visibility, the peaks will be shrouded in fog. Repeated bouts of snowfall from the heavy cloud cover (10-20 cm fresh snow). Winds will be northerly, brisk in the afternoon. At 2000 m: between -11 and -6 degrees; at 3000 m: -13 degrees. On Sunday, visibility initially much reduced due to heavy snowfall. During the day, dry weather will press forward, the clouds disperse, the sun come out at least with diffuse light. Moderate northerly winds will prevail. At 2000 m: -10 degrees; at 3000 m: -15 degrees.

At high altitudes, moderate snowdrift problem. As sunshine emerges, mostly small loose-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain.