Nock Mountains

Fresh wind slab and weak persistent weak layer

Fresh wind slab and weak persistent weak layer

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and low below. Especially in the sectors from north-west to north to south, slab avalanches can easily be triggered by individuals in some places. Avalanches reach medium size and can tear through the persistent weak layer. Be careful in particular near transitions from little to more snow and in the blown-in entrance areas to steep gullies. Some avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise and require a defensive choice of route.

The snow surface is heavily treated by the wind and prone to triggering. Within the snowpack, bonded snow overlays soft, faceted layers. In wind-protected, shady areas above about 2000 m, surface hoar has also been snowed in to some extent. Fractures occur either in soft layers near the surface or around the crust that forms the transition to the completely built-up old snow foundation. In general, areas with little snow alternate with sometimes considerable snowdrift accumulations in a confined space with below-average overall snow depths.

The night will be cloudy and largely free of precipitation. The south wind will blow at around 40 km/h. At 2000 m around -3 degrees. Visibility will deteriorate during the day on Thursday. Snowfall during the morning, increasing in the afternoon (about 10 cm). Around -3 degrees at 2000 metres. The moderate wind will shift from south to north during the day.

On Friday, a northerly foehn will form fresh wind slabs.