Nock Mountains

Wet-snow activity due to rain impact

Wet-snow activity due to rain impact

Avalanche danger above 1600 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Glide-snow avalanches can release naturally at any time of day or night, releases can reach medium size. In addition, wet-snow avalanches can release naturally due to rain and warmth mostly small avalanches trigger esp. in steep rocky trerrain. If the snowpack softens, this indicates danger. Due to fresh snowfall, ridgeline snowdrifts can be generated at high altitudes, in places triggerable by 1 person. Beware the dangers of taking a fall.

Overnight a melt-freeze crust forms in many places, but softens up due to rain impact. Above 2000 m the fresh snow is deposited mostly atop a settled snowpack, on shady slopes above 2400 m atop loose layers. Loose snow is the weak layer beneath fresh drifts which will get thicker during the day. A more deeply embedded weak layer for slab avalanches occurs above 2400 m: faceted crystals near crusts and graupel. Below 2000 m the snowpack has become thoroughly moist repeated times. Gliding snow activity has increased slightly.

Thursday will start with some sunshine and good visibility. In the Pinzgau and Northern Alps clouds will rapidly move in and rain/snow showers will spread. In afternoon, the showers will intensify, visibility deteriorate, snowfall level initially above 2000 m, later the snowfall level will drop a bit lower. Above 2000 m, 5-10 cm of fresh snow is expected by Thursday evening. The W/NW winds will be brisk to strong (up to 60-70 km/hr). At 2000 m: from 3 dropping to 0 degrees; at 3000 m: from -3 to -6 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.