Snow conditions 10.2.2016
10.02.2016
AVALANCHE RISK ASSESSMENT
The avalanche danger is level 4 in most of the Julian Alps above about 1500 m above sea level, level 3 in the western and central Karawanks and in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and mostly level 2 at lower elevations and in the eastern Karawanks.
From yesterday to this morning, 40 to about 80 cm of snow fell in the Julian Alps, about 30 to 50 cm in the Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and further east up to about 20 cm of snow. In the high mountains, the snow was dry, lower down it was initially wet. It snowed down to about 600 m above sea level, but the snow remained mostly above about 900 m in the west, and lower in the east. Initially, a strong southerly and southwesterly wind blew, which turned northwards this morning.
SNOW CONDITIONS and CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK
The snowpack is soft and loose. There are many wind slabs, and on wind-exposed slopes the new snow is quite wind-packed.
In the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, there is 100 to about 180 cm of snow above about 1500 m, and at 1000 m from just a few cm to about 10 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, there is 20 to 60 cm of snow at 1500 m, and higher up in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and central Karawanks up to about 80 cm.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today it will be cloudy, with snow especially in the morning. The northerly wind will transport snow into wind slabs. Approximately another 10 cm of snow may fall. It will clear at night and be sunny tomorrow. The freezing level will be at 1000 to 1200 m above sea level. On Friday, it will initially be cloudy and mostly dry, partially clearing from the west in the afternoon. The wind will be light both on Thursday and Friday.
TENDENCY OF SNOW CONDITIONS
The snowpack will settle and transform slowly, faster in the mid-mountains and on sun-exposed slopes. There it will crust during the day and freeze at night. Except in the high mountains and shady slopes, a surface crust will form. Due to light winds from tomorrow to Friday, there will be no new wind slabs. Initially, spontaneous avalanches of new, poorly bonded snow will still release mainly from steeper slopes. The avalanche risk will decrease only slowly.
The next report will be issued on FRIDAY, 12.2.2016 in the morning.
Source: ARSO