Nock Mountains

Beware of persistent weak layers

Beware of persistent weak layers

The avalanche risk is moderate from around 2000 metres. In a few places, avalanches can still be triggered by low additional loads in the persistent weak layer and reach medium size. Be careful at the transition from a little to a lot of snow.

Even mostly easily recognisable snowdrift accumulations can be disturbed. Superficial avalanches remain small, but can reach medium size if they tear through the persistent weak layer. Be careful in the area of cornices.

As the weather warms up during the day, more spontaneous wet loose snow avalanches can occur. This is mainly in the extended southern sector, but below 2000 m it is also becoming increasingly common on the north side.

The snow surface was characterised by storms. Several layers of often hard packets of drift snow lie on a rather unfavourable old snow surface. Fractures are mainly possible at the transition to the persistent weak layer, less frequently between the drift snow packs. Deeper in the old snowpack, faceted crystals and deep rime can still be found on shady, high-altitude slopes, often covered with a decomposed crust.

The night will start clear, but as the day progresses, low and medium-high cloud fields will spread from the north-west. On Saturday, visibility will be restricted by mostly dense clouds. In Lungau it will remain mainly dry and it may clear up a little now and then. The wind will blow briskly (peaks up to 50 km/h) from westerly directions, but will ease noticeably during the daytime changes. At 2000 metres the temperature will be -1 to 3 degrees, at 3000 metres -7 to -4 degrees.

In the night to Sunday it will clear up widely, the frost line will rise to around 2400 to 2600 metres. Decreasing danger from wind slab but increasing danger from wet snow.