Nock Mountains

Medium-sized glide-snow avalanches possible

Medium-sized glide-snow avalanches possible

Avalanche danger below 2000 m is low, above that altitude danger is MODERATE, mostly from glide-snow avalanches which can release naturally at any time. In high zones which have not yet discharged, medium sized. Most dangerous are the starting zones on NW/N/E facing slopes. Small drifts at high altitudes present a higher danger of falling.

The snowpack is 0-degree isotherm up to summit levels and thoroughly wet down to the ground. On sunny slopes the ground is bare up to intermediate altitudes, the reserves of cold are used up except for shady slopes above 2600 m. The fresh snow is bonding well. Stormy W/NW winds are generating small drifts. Reinforced gliding of the entire snowpack is being observed on smooth slopes.

Rainfall/snowfall will be frequent at night, also hefty thunderstorms, the snowfall level dropping from 2300 to 1400 m, NW winds reaching 50 km/hr. At high altitudes of the Northern Alps, 5-20 cm of fresh snow anticipated, in the Tauern 5-15 cm, in the Nockberge up to 10 cm. On Tuesday, clouds and some snowfall, brighter and drier in afternoon. In the Lungau Nockberge the snowfall will persist for longer. Snowfall level at 1000-1400. At 2000 m: -4 degrees; at 3000 m: -10 degrees. The NW winds will reach 90 km/hr in exposed terrain of the Northern Alps, in the Tauern 70 km/hr.

Further snowfall on Wednesday will intensify the snowdrift problem. A weak layer could form at the transition from fresh to old snow (cold-on-warm). The gliding snow problem persists.