Nock Mountains

Wind slab on weak persistent layer

Wind slab on weak persistent layer

The avalanche risk is moderate above 1900 metres and low below. In skiable terrain, small to medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered in some places, especially in the northern and eastern sectors, by low additional loads. This is most likely in the transition from little to more snow and in the fresh, prone-to-triggering snowdrift accumulations. Avalanche prone locations increase rapidly from the tree line upwards.

Around 10 cm of new fallen snow from Sunday lies on an otherwise very variable surface. These will be overlaid by prone-to-triggering snowdrift accumulations during the course of the day. In general, there are often areas with little snow next to snowdrift accumulations. In places, the older wind slab has been transformed and is soft, in places hard as a board. The old snowpack consists of crusts with faceted crystals in between and deep rime. Breakage usually occurs around the uppermost crust. The total snow depth is well below average.

On Wednesday, denser high cloud fields will predominate with a foehn-like southerly flow and visibility will often be limited in the highest regions. Unproductive snow showers are possible along the Carinthian border in the afternoon. A strong southerly wind will blow in the summit regions. The wind will generally weaken slightly in the afternoon. Temperatures at 2000 metres will be around -3 degrees, at 3000 metres around -5 degrees. Snowfall will spread during the night to Thursday.

Some new fallen snow with wind will slightly increase the avalanche danger on Thursday.