Nock Mountains

Daytime increase in avalanche danger due to fresh snow and winds

Daytime increase in avalanche danger due to fresh snow and winds

Danger above 1800m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier in places and in isolated cases grow to medium size. Danger zones in the old snow occur esp. on north-facing slopes above 2200m. Fresh drifts also occur distant from ridgelines, behind protruberances in the terrain and in gullies and bowls. Due to solar radiation during the afternoon hours, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches are possible. Small to medium glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally in very to extremely steep grass-covered terrain.

By Sunday midday, 20cm fresh snow at high altitudes. Above 2200m on north-facing slopes: weak layers of faceted crystals in lowermost part of snowpack. Above 2400m on W/S/E-facing slopes: faceted crystals between crusts. Inside the snowdrift accumulations, trigger-sensitive layers can quickly form. Below 2000m the old snow is moist, a crust has often formed on the surface.

On Sunday rainfall and snowfall in the morning hours amidst dense clouds. At midday, clouds will disperse and some sunshine is expected. In evening, clouds will move in widespread from the NW and on Sunday night, rain and snow will fall. Very windy, the W/NW winds will intensify during the course f the day and reach 70 km/hr. At 2000m: -2 degrees, at 3000m: -7 degrees C. On Sunday night the snowfall level will drop to below 1000m and temperatures will fall.

Dense clouds at night, the snowpack can hardly cool. Snowfall will set in. Avalanche danger will increase during the course of the day.