Snow conditions 10.5.2021

The danger level is 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wet snow, new snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

Danger assessment
The avalanche danger is MODERATE, level 2, above about 1600 m above sea level, and LOW, level 1, lower down. Steeper slopes are particularly dangerous, where there is a larger amount of new and wet snow on the old and harder snow cover; this is where individual wet snow avalanches will occur, and the old snow cover may also slide from steep slopes. Smaller snow avalanches are possible even on steep grassy slopes without old snow cover. In the high mountains, there are slabs and cornices that can collapse due to high temperatures. The possibility of triggering avalanches increases slightly during the day on sun-exposed slopes.

Snow conditions
At the end of the week, it warmed up quickly, the newer snow got wet and settled considerably, and lower down it melted away. Due to the high temperatures, the snow cover mostly does not freeze at night. The snow is wet and soft, lower down it is well transformed and recrystallized, and in many places the snow cover is soaked to the ground. In the high mountains, there are still slabs and cornices.

Forecast weather development
Today it will be sunny, temperatures will be above zero everywhere in the mountains. A light to moderate southwesterly wind will blow. Tomorrow it will be mostly clear, clouding over in the afternoon in the western and central parts of the Julian Alps and in the western and central Karawanks. Some peaks may occasionally be in clouds, also in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. A light to moderate southerly to southwesterly wind will blow. Temperatures will still be above zero. On Wednesday it will be cloudy and locally foggy with occasional precipitation. It will cool down, the snow line will drop to about 1700 m above sea level, the zero isotherm will be around 2000 m. A wind from southerly directions will blow, locally southwesterly. On Thursday it will be variable to mostly cloudy with occasional showers, partly showers. The snow line will mostly be around 1800 m above sea level.

Trend in snow conditions
Today and tomorrow the conditions will be spring-like. Due to high temperatures, the snow will be wet and individual small to medium-sized wet snow avalanches will release from steep slopes, and cornices may also collapse. The danger will be greater on sun-exposed aspects from mid-morning to late afternoon. In the high mountains, care must also be taken with slabs that can slide with minor snow cover loading. The snow will not freeze at night, except perhaps in frost hollows. On Wednesday it will cool down, in the high mountains 10 to 30 cm of snow is expected. Lower down it will rain and the rain will further soak the snow cover. Therefore, lower down we expect triggering of individual wet snow avalanches on steep slopes, including ground avalanches. Higher up there will be little spontaneous slab avalanches, but new slabs will form with the southwesterly wind. On Thursday and Friday, avalanche conditions will not change much. The danger will mostly be MODERATE, level 2.

Next issue: Wednesday, 12.5.2021

Source: ARSO