Nock Mountains

Fresh snowdrift accumulations from NW winds

Fresh snowdrift accumulations from NW winds

Avalanche danger above the treeline swiftly increases, is MODERATE above 1600 m. Fresh snowdrifts can be triggered by one single skier in places and release a medium-sized avalanche. Danger zones occur esp. in ridgeline zones and pass areas, in gullies and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, esp. on E/S facing slopes. They are easily recognized. In isolated cases, superficial avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack. Otherwise, this is likely only in transitions from shallow to deep snow on very steep, convex N/E facing slopes. Avalanches which fracture to deeper layers can grow to large size.

Far higher temperatures at high altitudes, the drifts from mid-week (W//N/NE) have settled, the proneness to triggering has receded. But since Saturday, strong NW winds are transporting the fresh snow, generating new drifts which can be prone to triggering. More deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack of faceted crystals are unlikely to trigger. On very steep sunny slopes a thin crust has formed. In other aspects, also on moderately steep sunny slopes at high altitudes, the snowpack surface is still powdery.

On Sunday, clouds to start with, then dispersing, higher peaks will be veiled in fog. Winds will initially be a perturbance at 40-60 km/hr, easing later. At 2000 m: from -2 to +1 degree.

No significant change is expected. On Monday, fresh snowdrifts will be the main problem.