Nock Mountains

Springtime conditions, daytime avalanche danger cycle

Springtime conditions, daytime avalanche danger cycle

Avalanche danger is initially LOW, then rises during the day yet stays in this danger level. Isolated, seldom glide snow avalanches (small-to-medium) are possible at any time of day or night in very steep grass-covered terrain, though the likelihood is greatest in afternoon and evening. Heed glide cracks.

The snowpack is capable of bearing loads to start with, often hard-as-steel and icy. During the course of the day it softens slowly. On sunny slopes the uppermost 10 cm become soft, on west-facing and north-facing slopes it remains hard for longer. Glide-snow activity on extremely steep slopes tends to increase through day by day.

Following a night of clear skies, cloudless and sunny skies on Wednesday. Very low air moisture, lighter winds than yesterday. At 2000 m: +5 degrees. On Thursday, brilliant sunshine, light winds, slightly moister air, unchanged springtime temperatures.

On Thursday, slightly greater cycle of daytime danger, wet-snow / glide-snow avalanches, due to higher air moisture.