Nock Mountains

Persistent weak layer in shallow-snow high alpine terrain

Little change, despite a few centimetres of fresh snow and wind.

Up to 2500 m there is a superficial crust, above that there are wind crusts. Inside the snowpack there has been an improvement in bonding. Potential danger zones of faceted crystals and soft intermediate layers exist above 2000/2200, esp. where the snow is shallow and in exposed zones.

On Sunday, brilliant sunshine above the persistent valley fog. On the Main Alpine Ridge and in the Lungau: N/NW winds at 60 km/hr at high altitude. At 2000 m: 0 degrees, at 3000 m: up to -4 degrees. On Monday temperatures will plummet, and northerly winds will be strong. The summits will disappear in fog, occasional snowfall, but minor amounts. At 2000 m: maximum -11 to -8 degrees, at 3000 m: maximum -11 degrees.

Persistent weak layer in shallow-snow high alpine terrain

Above 2000 m avalanche danger is moderate, below that altitude danger is generally low. Main problem: avalanche prone intermediate layers in the old snow near the ground. Isolated slab avalanches can trigger by large additional loading on shady high-altitude slopes, esp. where the snow is shallow (for example at entries to gullies and bowls). Isolated slabs can be triggered in shady steep high-altitude terrain by large additional loading, e.g. at entries to gullies and bowls. Triggered avalanches can reach medium size. At intermediate altitudes, small glide-snow avalanches can still trigger naturally on smooth, steep grassy slopes. Glide-snow avalanches can reach medium-to-large size, particularly at altitudes of 1800-2300m.