Snow conditions 10.4.2019

Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: weak layers, wind slab, new snow

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is mostly MODERATE, level 2, in the high mountains, and LOW, level 1, lower down. Steeper slopes above about 1700 m above sea level are particularly dangerous, where wind slab avalanches can be triggered by a small load on the snowpack - more wind slabs are on the southern and western sides of ridges and saddles. New snow in the high mountains is also relatively poorly bonded to the base, so it can slide on the weak layer on the old snow cover. Spontaneous avalanching is unlikely. Conditions are WORSENING due to snowfall.



Snow conditions

The snowpack is mostly soft and loose in the high mountains, wind slabs have formed due to the wind, wind-exposed areas are scoured. Lower down, where it is raining, the snow is wet. As it is already transformed and settled, it mostly does not slide.



Forecast weather development

Today it will be cloudy and foggy. There will be occasional precipitation, the snow line will be around 1600 m above sea level. A light to moderate northeasterly wind will blow. Tomorrow it will be cloudy and foggy, precipitation will intensify. In our mountains, the most will be in the Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps area. The snow line will mostly be between 1200 and 1500 m, lowering towards evening. A light to moderate northeasterly wind will blow. On Friday it will be cloudy and foggy, precipitation will slowly weaken. The snow line will drop below 1000 m. A moderate to strong northeasterly wind will blow. At the end of the week it will be cold and very likely mostly dry.



Trend in snow conditions

In the coming days, quite a lot of new snow will fall in the mountains. The most is expected in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps area and the western and central Karawanks, possibly more than 70 cm, elsewhere around 40 cm. This applies to altitudes above about 1500 m, lower down there will be less snow. Therefore, especially above 1500 m, the avalanche danger will gradually INCREASE. From steep slopes, new, poorly bonded snow will spontaneously avalanche, with the northeasterly wind, wind slabs will form on the western and southern sides of ridges and passes. New snow will bond poorly to the base in the high mountains, a weak layer will form on which the snow will slide. Today it is difficult to predict from which altitude upwards the snow will be dry from the start, lower down the connection between old and new snow will be better, so there will be less sliding.



Next issue: Saturday, 13.4.2019



Source: ARSO