Nock Mountains

Not much snow on the ground, very few avalanche prone locations

Not much snow on the ground, very few avalanche prone locations

Avalanche danger is low. Danger zones for dry-snow slabs are isolated even at high altitude. A potential problem lies in shady transitions from shallow to deeper snow, for example at the edges of steep gullies and bowls. In general, large additional loading is necessary to trigger a release, these remain predominantly small-sized. Below about 2200 m some danger of glide-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain and on smooth grassy slopes. In general, the risk which lurks in sharp rocks beneath the snow outweighs that of being buried in triggered releases.

The fresh fallen snow has settled and is still loose in some high alpine places. On Tuesday there was a small amount of additional snowfall without much wind influence, the fresh snow blanketed surface hoar in many places. Intermittently strong-velocity winds had already transported the fresh snow, smoothing out the snow surface on the ground above the treeline, filling gullies and bowls to the brim. Bonding to the snowpack fundament is generally good (area-wide only on shady high altitude slopes) however thin, soft intermediate layers in the old snow could prove to be fracture spots. At intermediate and low altitudes, no cohesive, area-wide snowpack covers the ground. On steep grassy slopes, isolated glide cracks are evident. The snow situation is still highly variegated.

On Thursday, frequent sunshine is anticipated in the mountains amid light clouds. At low altitudes, fogbanks could hamper visibility. The summits in the Nockbergen and on the Main Alpine Ridge of the Tauern will be cloaked in heavy cloud from the south. Winds will be light to moderate. At 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 3000 m: -8 degrees. On Friday the peaks will be hidden in heavy cloud until past midday, a bit of snowfall is expected in the Nockberge and Tauern above all. In the afternoon the clouds may disperse somewhat, foehn-induced southerly winds (30-40 km/hr) will arise. At 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 3000 m: -8 degrees. On Saturday on the Main Tauern Ridge and in the Lungau, barrier cloud build-up expected from the south, summits wreathed in fog. Further north, only slightly cloudy, often sunny with good visibility. Foehn wind will be blowing at 40-60 km/hr in the Tauern.

No significant change expected immediately. On the weekend, a snowdrift problem due to rising foehn wind.