Snow conditions 10.4.2015
10.04.2015
The avalanche danger is mostly level 1, but increases to level 2 during the day due to solar radiation.
The snowpack is generally stable, but softens somewhat and becomes labile midday and in the afternoon, especially on sun-exposed aspects.
The risk is low. Only small snow sluffs and loose snow releases can occur spontaneously on south-facing slopes midday and in the afternoon. Avalanches can be triggered on very rare steep slopes, especially with significant additional loading, particularly midday and afternoon when, under solar influence, the snowpack becomes wet internally and softens at the surface.
SNOW CONDITIONS
In the mountains, weather has been mostly clear recently. It gradually warmed, and yesterday the zero isotherm was around 2500 m a.s.l. The snowpack became wet during the day even on sun-exposed aspects in the high mountains, refreezing at night. At lower elevations it melted. In shady aspects of the high mountains, snow slowly metamorphosed and settled but remained mostly frozen even during the day.
Snowpack depth is quite variable. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m a.s.l. up to around 210 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to around 80 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains less snow, at 1500 m up to around 30 cm. Significant snow cover mostly reaches to around 1100 m a.s.l., on south-facing slopes mostly above around 1400 m.
CURRENT SNOWPACK STATE
The snowpack in higher shady aspects is mostly crusted over, elsewhere mainly hard and locally icy, with snow scoured to the old surface on wind-exposed sites. During the day, in sunny weather, snow softens on sun-exposed aspects and refreezes at night.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today mostly clear. Tomorrow occasional layered and translucent cloudiness with bases high above summits, late afternoon also some cumulus clouds forming. Evening and night into Sunday, and Sunday afternoon, isolated brief showers possible. Freezing level today around 2800 m a.s.l., tomorrow and Sunday around 2500 m.
SNOW CONDITION TRENDS
On south-facing slopes the snowpack will soften during the day and become potentially unstable. Thus, during the day especially on sunny aspects avalanche risk will increase to level 2. At night snow will refreeze and become stable again. In mid-elevations the snowpack will saturate to the ground. In morning and early forenoon hours snow will thus be hard and icy, posing a slip hazard.
Next report published on Monday, 13.4.2015.
Source: ARSO