Nock Mountains

Consider persistent weak layer

Consider persistent weak layer

The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below. In a few places, especially in the extended northern exposures, medium-sized slab avalanches can still be triggered by individuals, especially at the transitions from little to more snow. Occasional gliding avalanches from steep grassy terrain as well as wet loose snow avalanches and snow slabs from sunny slopes that have not yet been unloaded are also possible.

The snowpack cools down well overnight and crusts can form. In the morning hours, the melt-freeze crust is stable, but softens again on sunny slopes during the day. In general, the snowpack on the sunny slopes is damp or wet up to high altitudes. On shady slopes, soft, faceted snow can be found on the snow surface from around 2000 metres. Where there is a bound snow slab, the connection to the faceted old snow below is still poor, weak layers can be found at the transition to the old snow as well as deeper in the old snowpack. Deep and sunny middle layers are often already tapped out.

Friday night will be mostly clear. Friday will be very sunny again and there will be good visibility, even if a little more high cloud and dust will spoil the sunshine somewhat. A weak to moderate southerly wind will set in on the main Alpine ridge. At 2000 metres it will be around 5 degrees, at 3000 metres around -2 degrees.

Little change in avalanche danger. The persistent weak layer problem is only slowly weakening.