Snow conditions 10.3.2021

The danger level is 1 on the European 5-level scale - LOW.

Main problem: favourable conditions

Danger pattern: Spring situation

Danger pattern: Snowfall after a prolonged period of frost



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is mostly LOW, level 1. The snowpack is mostly stable, in places it is icy, and similarly on ridges. Therefore, there is a risk of slipping.



Snow conditions

The snowpack is mostly stable and hard or covered with a crust. In shaded areas and in the high mountains, there is 5 to 10 cm of dry and loose snow, locally more new snow. This has bonded well to the hard base. On exposed spots, the wind has blown the new snow down to the old base, and small cornices have formed in places. Due to the relatively cold weather, the new snow has only sintered on steeper sun-facing slopes and in lower areas. Especially on sun-exposed slopes and along ridges, the snowpack is icy.



Forecast weather development

Today it will be partly cloudy. There will be more sunshine in the west, more cloudiness on the Pohorje and in the eastern Karawanks. From midday and in the afternoon, brief snow showers will occur. The amount of new snow will be small. The most precipitation is expected in the area of the eastern Kamnik-Savinja Alps and in the Karawanks, where around 5 cm of new snow can fall. A weak wind will blow, mainly moderate northerly wind in the high mountains. Temperature at 1500 m will be around -4, at 2500 m around -11 °C. On Thursday, moderately to mostly cloudy, with the thickest cloudiness in the southern part of the Julian Alps and their foothills. Occasionally foggy. Westerly to southwesterly wind will strengthen, moderate to strong in the evening. Temperature at 1500 m around -2, at 2500 m around -3 °C. On Friday, cloudy and foggy with precipitation that will intensify during the day. The snow line will initially be at 1200 to 1600 m above sea level, in the evening it will start to descend from the north. Before the cooling, a moderate southwesterly wind will blow. At 1500 m around 2, at 2500 m around -4 °C. On Friday night into Saturday, it will snow down to the alpine valleys. In total, 10 to 40 cm of snow can fall by Saturday morning, locally more. On Saturday, it will partly clear, during the day the southwesterly wind will strengthen again. It will be warmer again, at 1500 m around 2, at 2500 m around -5 °C. On Sunday, it looks like it will be cloudy and foggy with snowfall again. A strong northerly wind will blow. Colder.



Trend in snow conditions

Snow conditions will not change much today and on Thursday due to cold and quite cloudy weather. The snowpack will only sinter a little on pronounced sun-facing slopes below the treeline. There will be very little new snow and it will not affect the avalanche danger, which will remain LOW, level 1. Conditions will start to change on Friday due to snowfall with wind. New snow will fall on a hard and partly icy base, so the release danger will INCREASE. Due to the influence of sun and warming, we also expect spontaneous wet snow avalanches on Saturday during the day.



Next issue: Saturday, 13.3.2021



Source: ARSO