Nock Mountains

Wetness and weakness of snowpack as day progresses

Wetness and weakness of snowpack as day progresses

Avalanche danger is MODERATE. Due to higher temperatures and solar radiation on Saturday, naturally triggered wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches are expected, mostly medium sized, also larger. Avalanche activity will swiftly increase, esp. on S/E facing slopes below 2400 m, in late morning, then spread to all aspects over the course of the day. Backcountry tours should pay close heed to the march of time during the day, and its results.

A melt-freeze crust forms at night which then softens during the morning. The timing and extent of moisture is decided by altitude, aspect and steepness gradient. On very steep slopes in E/S aspects the snowpack begins to moisten. On south-facing slopes in high alpine regions, on E/W facing slopes below 3000 m, on north-facing slopes below 2600 m the snowpack is becoming thoroughly wet for the first time, and thereby weakening. The stable old snowpack is causing most releases to be glide-snow avalanches and loose wet-snow avalanches. Wet slab avalanches are more likely where there is little snow and in rocky terrain, esp. west-facing terrain. Due to the loss of firmness of the snowpack, the glide-snow and wet-snow avalanches can sweep lots of wet snow along in their plummet path, reach zones where there is no snow on the ground.

Tonight will have cloudless skies, outgoing radiation will be good. Sunday will be predominantly sunny and a notch warmer still. In afternoon, Sahara dust will make the air hazy, but it will be far less than last week. Warm! At 2000 m: 12-15 degrees; at 3000 m: 6 degrees. Southerly foehn in the Tauern, elsewhere little wind.

High wet-snow/gliding snow activity will persist.