Nock Mountains

Small/thin snowdrift patches covered by hard old snowpack. Danger of falling.

Small/thin snowdrift patches covered by hard old snowpack. Danger of falling.

Avalanche danger is generally low. Above 1800 m fresh snowdrifts are recognizable danger zones, small slab avalanches are possible through minimum additional loading. Caution: acute danger of falling. Latent danger of glide-snow avalanches threatens on steep grass-covered slopes, possible at any time of day or night. Avoid zones below glide cracks. On very steep sunny rough and rocky slopes, small loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally.

Up to 1800 m, up to summits on sunny slopes, the fresh snowdrifts were deposited atop a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads. Weak layers occur inside the fresh drifts. In addition, on shady slopes above 1800 m the loose old snowpack surface is a potential weak layer for slab avalanches. On high-altitude shady slopes there are near-surface layers of faceted crystals, triggerable only in isolated cases. Due to ground warmth the latent danger of glide-snow avalanches persists.

On Friday evening, clouds will disperse, the nocturnal skies will be cloudless. On Saturday, unhindered sunshine. Brisk NW winds, gusts up to 60 km/hr. At 1500 m: 1-4 degrees; at 2000 mn: -1 to +1 degree.

The snowdrift problem will continue to diminish, the gliding snow problem will persist.