Nock Mountains

Poor visibility hinders danger assessment at high altitude

During the nocturnal hours cloud cover will become more dense amid strong to storm-strength foehn winds. On Monday, many peaks will be shrouded in fog. In early morning, light-to-moderate rainfall up to 2000m. Above that altitude a few centimetres of fresh snow is anticipated. Ongoing strong-to-stormy southerly winds. At 2000m: 0 degrees; at 3000m: -5 degrees.

Following a night of overcast skies on Monday night, rapid loss of snowpack firmness on sunny slopes on Tuesday. At high altitudes persistent snowdrift problem on north-facing slopes.

Poor visibility hinders danger assessment at high altitude

Avalanche danger is moderate. At low and intermediate altitudes, small wet loose-snow avalanches can be expected in very steep starting zones due to rain seepage. Above 2000m in some places even one person can trigger a small, in seldom occurrences medium-sized slab avalanche. Danger zones occur on W/N/E facing steep slopes, often distant from ridgelines. Caution urged especially at entry points into very steep gullies and bowls. On very steep grass-covered slopes, isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible.

On shady high altitudes slopes, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations lie deposited atop a faceted old snowpack surface. On sunny slopes following a night of much reduced outgoing radiation, breakable melt-freeze crusts prevail. Rain seepage is burdening the already heavily moistened snowpack.