Nock Mountains

Consistently avoid steep drift snow areas

Consistently avoid steep drift snow areas

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and moderate below. The number and extent of avalanche prone locations increase rapidly with altitude, depending on the influence of the wind. Even a single person can trigger a medium-sized slab avalanche in some places. In particular, be careful near the transitions from little to more snow and in the blown-in entrance areas to steep gullies. The fresh wind slab is usually easy to recognise and should be consistently avoided.

The snow surface is strongly characterised by the wind; blown-off broad ridges and crests lie close to fields of drifting snow that are prone to triggering. This bonded snow overlays soft, faceted layers, and in wind-protected, shady areas above around 2000 metres, surface hoar. Fractures occur either in soft layers near the surface or around the crust that forms the transition to the completely built-up old snow foundation.

The clouds will soften temporarily on Monday night and it will remain largely free of precipitation. During the day, the north-westerly wind will pick up again, with gusts of 40 to 70 km/h from the morning. Besides high clouds, the sun will shine frequently. At 2000 metres it will be around 0 degrees.

On Tuesday, 10 to 20 cm of new fallen snow with strong north-westerly winds. The avalanche danger increases.