Nock Mountains

Wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches starting in afternoon.

Wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches starting in afternoon.

Favourable conditions in the morning, MODERATE avalanche danger in the afternoon below 2400 m. On steep smooth grassy slopes below 2400 m, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches reaching medium size are still possible. Avoid terrain below glide cracks or pass through these zones quickly. In the afternoon, likelihood of triggering mostly small wet loose-snow avalanches on extremely steep SE-S-SW facing slopes will increase somewhat. A soft, weak snowpack is an indicator of danger.

The snowpack is quite stable. More deeply embedded layers in the old snow (faceted crystals, also melt-freeze crusts) are unlikely to trigger. On steep sunny slopes a melt-freeze crust forms at night which is capable of bearing loads; at high altitudes and on E/W facing slopes the crust is not capable of bearing loads. During the course of the day the snowpack softens particularly on south-facing slopes, becomes wet, the snowpack loses its firmness. On shady slopes there is a mixture of wind-crusts and powder snow.

On Thursday, mostly sunny to start with, then high-altitude cloudbanks will pass through, creating diffuse light conditions, but visibility will remain adequate. As of midday, more cloud cover will move in from the west, reducing visibility. Winds will remain light. At 2000 m: 2-4 degrees; at 3000 m: -3 degrees.

On Friday, overcast skies, temperatures will. drop further. Danger of wet-snow avalanches will diminish.