Nock Mountains

Treacherous snowdrift problem above treeline

Treacherous snowdrift problem above treeline

The snowdrift problem above 2000 m is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude it is generally MODERATE. Avalanche prone locations above the treeline. Higher altitude are often utterly windblown. Danger zones therefore in gullies and bowls, also in NE/S/W aspects distant from ridgelines. Even minimum additional loading can trigger and avalanche, e.g. one single ascending skier, and avalanches can grow to large size.

Above 1500 m there is 20-40 cm of fresh snow, on the Main Tauern Ridge up to 50 cm of fresh snow, deposited atop an old, melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface. Bonding of new snow to old snow is generally good. The soft layer just beneath the crust (faceted crystals from December ) is easily triggered (listen for settling noises). Much more easily triggered are the most recent snowdrift accumulations which on Wednesday and Thursday were deposited atop loose and cold layers, sometimes riddled with graupel. inside this layer there were several releases on Thursday, some artificial, some triggered by skiers.

On Friday, light winds, sunshine, perfect visibility. In the afternoon, high-altitude clouds will move in, by evening some light snowfall is possible. At 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 3000 m: -11 to -14 degrees. On Saturday, clouds and sunshine will alternate, the summits will remain free towards the south. At high altitudes, brisk NW winds (up to 40 km/hr). At 2000 m: -8 to -10 degrees; at 3000 m_ -18 to -13 degrees.

Little change on Saturday, Main problem: recent snowpack accumulations and those which will be generated on Saturday.