Nock Mountains

Windslab snow and weak old snowpack with low snow cover

During the night, the sky will be clear and a partly brisk south-easterly to southerly wind will continue at high altitudes. On Wednesday, the consistently sunny weather will continue with good visibility and dry air. The wind will be mostly weak to moderate. The temperature at 2000 metres will be around -3 degrees, at 3000 metres around -6 degrees.

As the wind dies down, the danger within the stage decreases.

Windslab snow and weak old snowpack with low snow cover

The avalanche risk is moderate above 1800 metres and low below. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by small additional loads, but remain predominantly small. Avalanche prone locations increase rapidly above the tree line, at higher altitudes increasingly also in south-eastern aspects. Whumpfing collapsing sounds when stepping on the snowpack can indicate danger. During daytime changes, there is a low risk of small loose snow avalanches on sunny slopes. Terrain traps are less full due to lack of snow and therefore more effective.

The local snow surface varies greatly. There are areas with little snow next to considerable snowdrift accumulations. A melt-freeze crust usually forms overnight, which softens up to high altitudes during the daytime changes on the sunny slopes. In addition, fresh wind slab snow begins to build up and is partially slightly soaked on the surface with sunlight. Where there is an old snowpack, there are faceted crystals on and under the crust at the transition to it, which can serve as a reactive weak layer. Fractures in the persistent weak layer usually occur here. Deeper in the old snowpack there is a sequence of faceted crystals, crusts and deep rime. The total snow depth is well below average.