Nock Mountains

Avoid fresh wind slabs that are prone to triggering

Avoid fresh wind slabs that are prone to triggering

The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line. Fresh wind slabs can be triggered as small or medium-sized slabs in all aspects, even under low loads. Avalanche prone locations are mainly in gullies, bowls and behind terrain edges, also distant from ridgelines. Take particular care on very steep western, northern and eastern slopes above around 2000 metres. Transitions from little to more snow are particularly unfavourable.

The snow surface is characterised by the north-westerly storm of the last few days and this is also depositing fresh wind slab snow. It covers an unfavourable old snow surface above the tree line. Breaks are possible between the drift snow layers and at the transition to the persistent weak layer. The old snowpack is particularly weakened on western, northern and eastern slopes above around 2000 metres by layers of faceted crystals and deep frost as well as by a foundation of floating snow close to the ground.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, visibility will often be limited by dense clouds, but it will remain largely free of precipitation in the Nockberge region. Winds from the north will be weak to moderately strong, brisk at higher altitudes in the Nockberge mountains with gusts of around 50 kilometres per hour. The temperature at 2000 metres will be between -9 and -6 degrees.

Mixed weather with some snowfall and wind leads to a slow reduction in avalanche danger.