Nock Mountains

Trigger-sensitive drifts due to stormy S/W winds

Trigger-sensitive drifts due to stormy S/W winds

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh drifts cna be triggered as small-to-medium slab avalanches by 1 person on N/SE facing slopes. Danger zones occur in gullies, bowls and behind discontinuities, near to and distant from ridges. Frequency and size of danger zones increase swiftly with ascending altitude. Up to 2600 m glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally at any time of day on very steep slopes with smooth ground surfaces. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

On Sunday night, the fresh snow settled somewhat amid rising temperatures (sink-in depths 10-15 cm) and the proneness to triggering has receded. Weak layers are evident inside the fresh fallen snow wherever snowdrifts lie deposited on top of fresh snow. In some places, surface hoar has been blanketed over. Crusts and faceted layers lurk in the old snowpack on shady slopes, as tests confirm. The snowpack is highly irregular, making weak layers small. The snowpack base is stable and thoroughly wet up to intermediate altitudes. The warm ground leads to the entire snowpack gliding downhill over smooth ground.

On Tuesday night a bit of rainfall (above 1600-2000 m snowfall) is possible. During the daytime on Wednesday, high-altitude clouds, frequent sunshine, diffuse light conditions. The W/SW winds will be moderate to strong (40 km/hr). At 2000 m: 0 degrees; at 3000 m: -6 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.