Nock Mountains

Northerly foehn wind will generate fresh trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Northerly foehn wind will generate fresh trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger is rising swiftly in relation to wind impact: as of 1600 m danger is CONSIDERABLE. The fresh snowdrifts can trigger as a slab avalanche of small-to-medium size. Releases can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack. Most danger zones occur in extended E/S facing slopes, near ridgelines and distant from them, as well as in steep gullies in all aspects. In very steep terrain, small loose-snow avalanches are possible.

Atop a snowpack surface showing marked effects of wind (gullies and bowls are filled to the brim, ridges are utterly windblown) cold snow or fresh snowdrifts lie deposited. Bonding is poor. Also the old snowpack is unfavourably layered (ground-level layers metamorphosed, atop of which are melt-freeze crusts/icy sheets and just beneath the surface hoar is embedded) lies a layer of powder which has not been wind-impacted.

On Saturday the peaks will be wreathed in heavy cloud, orientation is made difficult through fog and snowfall. Winds will be light to moderate. At 1500 m: -9 degrees; at 2000 m: -13 degrees.

Treacherous snowdrift situation on Sunday