Nock Mountains

Avoid zones below glide cracks

Avoid zones below glide cracks

Avalanche danger is moderate over 1500 m, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: gliding snow. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally up to summit level at any time of day, esp on steep slopes with smooth ground beneath (grass, rocks) in all aspects. Above 1800 m they can be medium-sized. Avoid zones below glide cracks. Apart from the gliding snow problem, the danger of falling outweighs that of avalanches. Naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible at any time of day, but skiers are unlikely to trigger them. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

Stormy winds have done their work on the snowpack, variable surfaces should be expected during descents. At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly wet. The drifts formed over the weekend are generally well bonded with the old snowpack. The ground is warm, thus, the entire snowpack is gliding downhill over smooth surfaces.

On Friday, mostly cloudy skies, milky sunshine, heavier cloud cover north of Main Alpine Ridge, esp. in Prealps and Kalkalps. Good visibility, often diffuse light conditions. Light to moderate SW winds, stronger in the Prealps (50 km/hr). At 2000 m: +3 degrees. On Friday night, cloudy skies, getting heavy early Saturday morning.

The danger of glide-snow avalanches will persist.