Snow conditions 10.11.2017

General danger level - Friday, 10. 11. 2017

The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: wind slab, new snow

Danger pattern: Cold weather, fresh snow poorly bonded by wind



Risk assessment

The avalanche danger above about 2000 m is mainly in the Julian Alps MODERATE, level 2, elsewhere in our mountains and lower SMALL, level 1. Steep slopes are particularly dangerous, especially grassy and rocky ones and places with wind slab. There, with greater loading of the snowpack, you can trigger an avalanche.



Snow conditions

In the last few days, the snowpack in the mid-mountains softened during the day and refroze at night. In the high mountains, the snow remained mostly dry. There was no strong wind. The snowpack settled somewhat, and a crust formed on the surface in places.



Forecast weather development

On Saturday it will be partly clear at first, more cloudy in the afternoon. A west to southwest wind will blow. On Sunday it will be moderately cloudy at first, clouding up from the west during the day and towards evening smaller precipitation will begin mainly in the west. In the afternoon the southwest wind will strengthen. Precipitation will intensify overnight to Monday and subside Monday afternoon. Initially the snow line will be around 1400 m, on Monday around 400 m above sea level. A strong to gale-force north wind will blow, it will cool down. The freezing level will be mostly between 1700 and 2200 m on Saturday and Sunday, on Monday it will drop to about 800 m above sea level.



Trend in snow conditions

The snowpack will slowly settle and metamorphose on Saturday and Sunday, above about 2200 m and in shady locations with almost no metamorphism. The surface crust will strengthen somewhat more, in the shade and high mountains the snow will remain mostly dry and soft. With snowfall, 10 to 30 cm of snow will fall by Monday afternoon, which the strong north wind will redistribute into wind slabs considerably. Due to new snow and wind slabs and cooling, the avalanche danger will increase. In the high mountains of the Julian Alps it will presumably be CONSIDERABLE, level 3, elsewhere MODERATE, level 2.



Next issue: Monday, 13. 11. 2017



Source: ARSO