Nock Mountains

Isolated small danger snowdrift patches

Isolated small danger snowdrift patches

Avalanche danger above the treeline is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Fresh, small snowdrift accumulations can trigger on very steep (>35°) N/E facing slopes above 2000 m. Danger zones occur in gullies, bowls and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. They are not always visible to the naked eye in the diffuse light conditions. Caution urged wherever taking a fall is possible.

Amid strong (in places storm-strength) SW winds there was a few cm of fresh snow registered on Tuesday night which generated fresh snowdrift accumulations. These were deposited atop a loose old snowpack surface of faceted crystals, surface hoar on N/E facing slopes and are prone to triggering in isolated cases. Weak layers inside the old snowpack (Tauern, high alpine regions) are well blanketed and unlikely to trigger.

On Wednesday, foehn conditions will arrive, with high-altitude clouds. Visibitility will be good, if somewhat diffuse. Near the Main Alpine Ridge dense clouds and light snowfall could hamper visibility somewhat, also in the Northern Alps in the afternoon. Some rainfall and snowfall is possible (snowfall level at 1800-2000m), but elsewhere it will remain dry. In the Northern Alps above all, moderate to strong velocity SW winds. Temperatures will rise. At midday at 1000 m: +6 degrees; at 2000 m: -3 degree; a 3000 m: -7 degrees.

Cautions urged towards fresh snowdrift accumulations.