Nock Mountains

Avoid snowdrifts on north-facing slopes

Avoid snowdrifts on north-facing slopes

Avalanche danger above 2200 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Danger zones occur mostly in very steep shady terrain. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Isolated small-to-medium slab avalanches can trigger from large additional loading in the older drifts. In addition, on very steep N/E/W facing slopes above 2400 m, weak layers in the old snow can be triggered by large additional loading. Slabs can grow to large size releases. Special caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow, e.g. at entries into gullies and bowls. On steep grass-covered slopes, gliding snow activity is increasing. Glide-snow avalanches are usually small, occasionally they reach medium size. During the course of the day, increasingly frequent wet loose-snow avalanches are possible in sunny rough and rocky terrain.

The surface is highly irregular, windblown zones alternate with huge snowdrift accumulations, huge cornices protrude. The drifts are well bonded with the base, triggerable usually be large additional loading. On sunny slopes the snowpack has a melt-freeze crust in early morning, it becomes sticky during the daytime. On shady slopes the reserves of cold are dissipating, esp. after a night of clouds and high air moisture. The snow surfaces are becoming increasingly heavy and bonded.

The night will begin with heavy clouds in the Northern Alps, dispersing after midnight in the Niedere Tauern. The southerly winds will slacken off finally. On Wednesday in the Tauern, scattered clouds, some sunshine, intermittent clouds will pass through. Winds at all altitudes will be light from the south. At 2000 m: +2 degrees; at 3000 m: -4 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. Gliding snow activity will increase.