Nock Mountains

Note the persistent weak layer

Note the persistent weak layer

The avalanche risk is low. Above 2000 m, medium slab avalanches can be triggered in a few places in the aspects from west to north to east, in particular due to large additional loads. Such avalanche prone locations are rare but not recognisable in the terrain. Take particular care at the transitions from little to more snow. In summit locations, avalanches can occasionally be triggered by individuals in wind slabs, in particular in shady steep terrain. Avalanches remain small, the risk of falling generally outweighs the risk of burial.

Snowdrift accumulations have mostly stabilised well up to high altitudes. Occasionally, faceted layers can be found underneath drift snow packs. Faceted crystals on crusts can also be found deeper in the snowpack, while the snowpack near the ground consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep snowpack near the ground is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers are bare.

Wednesday night will be partly to partly cloudy. On Wednesday, the sun will mostly shine until midday (in the Nockberge mountains until the evening) with a moderate southerly wind. During the afternoon, increasingly dense clouds will gather and the mountains will become partly foggy. Rain and snow showers will move through towards the evening. The snowfall level will drop rapidly from 2000 metres to low altitudes. The wind will shift to the west to north-west in the afternoon/evening and increase in strength. Before the cold front, 1 to 4 degrees at 2000 metres. With the passage of the front, temperatures will drop to -7 degrees at 2000 metres.

New fallen snow and wind are causing a significant increase in avalanche risk.