Nock Mountains

Pay close heed to signs of wind

Pay close heed to signs of wind

Avalanche danger above the treeline is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. The freshly generated snowdrift accumulations can trigger a medium-sized slab avalanche by minimum additional loading, though mostly heavier loading or very steep slopes are required. In steep terrain, isolated glide-snow avalanches are possible.

The fresh snow from Friday and Saturday has already settled and is well bonded with the old snowpack. Southerly foehn winds have had great impact. Wind-exposed terrain is windblown down to the old snowpack surface, deep snowdrifts lie adjacent, the surface is extremely irregular. On sunny slopes the snow is sticky or has a melt-freeze crust. In wind-protected terrain and on shady slopes there is still powder. Huge cornices tower. Weak layer for a slab: mostly the loose snow beneath the drifts; more deeply embedded layers are unlikely to trigger.

On Monday heavy clouds will pass through, hamper the sunshine. Along the Hohe Tauern and in the Lungau, heavy clouds are still moving in from the south, reducing visibility. Winds are brisk from the south, stronger along the Tauern (gusts of 50 km/hr). At 2000 m: -5 to +1 degree; at 3000 m: -7 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.