Nock Mountains

Freshly generated snowdrifts easily triggered

Freshly generated snowdrifts easily triggered

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh snowdrifts in steep gullies and bowls and behind discontinuities can be triggered in some places by 1 person, avalanches can reach medium size, danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Danger of naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches persists. Where snow is deep enough, they can reach medium size. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

The snowpack surface is lavishly covered with surface hoar where the terrain is wind-protected. The loose recent snowfall from the weekend has been transported by SE winds. Large crystals and surface hoar have formed a weak layer, the drifts constitute the slab. The old snowpack is largely stable but the weight of fresh snow reinforces the tendency of the entire snowpack to glide downhill over the warm ground.

On Friday the southern mountain ranges often sunshine and good visibility. Along the Tauern and in the Nockberge, brisk northerly foehn winds (60 km/hr). Colder. At 2000 m: -7 degrees, at 3000 m: -10 degrees.

Fresh snowdrifts continue to be generated. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.