Nock Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger due to wet-snow avalanches

Moderate avalanche danger due to wet-snow avalanches

Avalanche danger is moderate. Danger zones for wet-snow avalanches occur on very steep shady slopes below 2600m, on very steep sunny slopes at all altitudes. Wet-snow avalanches can trigger naturally at any time of day or night and grow to medium size Esp. on very steep W/N/E-facing slopes, increasingly frequent wet slab avalanches are possible, triggered either naturally or by persons. Avalanches in steep gullies can in isolated cases plummet down to the green zones. In very steep grass-covered terrain, isolated mostly small-sized glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally.

The snowpack below 2600m is at least moistened in all aspects, on sunny slopes often up to high-alpine regions thoroughly wet. The snowpack cannot sufficient radiate outwardly during the nocturnal hours, forms only a thin melt-freeze crust not capable of bearing loads, and softening quickly in the morning hours. High air moisture and local rainfall is making the snowpack even wetter. Weak layers of faceted crystals evident only on extremely steep shady slopes above 2600m. On very steep, smooth slopes, the entire snowpack can glide away.

Skies on Sunday night will be partially cloudy, cloud cover will become dense in the latter part of the night and hinder outgoing longwave radiation. On Monday, clouds will disperse during the morning, though south of the Main Alpine Ridge dense clouds could accumulate from the south and shroud the highest peaks. A bit of rainfall is possible in places on the Main Ridge, snowfall above 2400-2600m. Moderate to brisk southerly foehn wind. At 2000m: 2-7 degrees; at 3000m: -1 degree.

The snowpack is becoming thoroughly wet. Main danger: wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches.