Nock Mountains

Weak persistent weak layer in the shade, daytime changes in the sun

Weak persistent weak layer in the shade, daytime changes in the sun

The avalanche risk is moderate from around 2000 metres and low below that. In a few places that are often difficult to recognise, medium-sized slab avalanches can still be triggered by individuals, especially in the extended northern sector. This is in particular at the transitions from little to more snow.

On the sunny slopes, deeper layers can be disturbed more easily in daytime changes as the snowpack softens, but these are only present at higher elevations. Occasional wet snow slabs are therefore also possible in terrain that has not yet been discharged.

The snowpack can cool down well overnight and form a melt-freeze crust. On sunny slopes, this softens during the day and the snowpack is damp or wet up to high altitudes. In shady high altitudes, some soft, faceted snow can still be found on the surface, some of which has already crusted can form. Below this lies a now well-set and connected sequence of compact drift snow layers, but often a crust with faceted crystals is still embedded in the upper area (the old snowpack before the last major precipitation). The connection at the transition to the old snow foundation, which consists mainly of deep rime, is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers are largely snowed out.

The night will be cloudless for long stretches. Temperatures during the night at 2000 m: -1 to +3 degrees, at 3000 m around -5 degrees. On Sunday, we can expect almost bright sunshine at first. During the day, high cloud fields will gather, which may cloud the sky a little in addition to the Sahara dust. In the afternoon, temperatures at 2000 metres will be between +1 and +4 degrees, at 3000 metres around -4 degrees.

Monday night will be cloudy to very cloudy and the temperature will only drop by a few degrees during the night. The snow surface will crust can form less well.