Nock Mountains

Small avalanche prone locations in freshly generated snowdrifts

Small avalanche prone locations in freshly generated snowdrifts

The danger of avalanches is LOW (1). Isolated avalanche prone locations for dry-snow slab avalanches possible on east-facing and south-facing slopes, behind protruberances in the terrain and in gullies, also distant from ridgelines due to wind impact. Minimum additional loading is sufficient to trigger a small slab avalanche, i.e. one single person.

By Saturday morning, about 10 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. Above 1500 m there is a cohesive area-wide old snowpack frequently melt-freeze encrusted through warmth, rainfall and wind impact. Potential fracture points for slab avalanches are to be expected inside the fresh snow. At lower altitudes the snow will fall mostly on bare ground.

Thick clouds and snow showers will reduce visibility severely on Saturday. The snowfall will slacken off later on, there will be occasional interims, later in the day the showers can increase again and continue through the night. A stormy and very cold NW wind will be blowing, on the ridgelines reaching 60-80 km/hr. At 2000 m, -12 degrees. By Sunday morning, 5 cm of fresh snow expected. On Sunday, heavy cloud will predominate, but no precipitation. Still very windy: the NW winds wil intensify, reach gusts of 60-80 km/hr. At 2000 m, -12 to -9 degrees. On Monday, variably cloudy skies above the summits with brief sunny intervals, the light often diffuse. There will be no precipitation. Winds will be no disturbance. Higher temperatures: at 2000 m, -6 degrees.

No significant change in avalanche danger at the beginning of the week.