Snow conditions 11.3.2019
11.03.2019
The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: drifted snow, weak layers
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger in the high mountains of the western and central Julian Alps is MODERATE, level 2, due to new snow, elsewhere mostly LOW (1), depending on the amount of snow. There is a lot of drifted snow, so northern and eastern slopes are more dangerous. Especially on wind-exposed locations there is GLIDING AVALANCHE DANGER.
Snow conditions
On wind-exposed sites, new snow is drifted to the hard and partly icy base. The snowpack is mostly well transformed, only in high mountains there are places with looser snowpack. There, wind slabs are still present due to wind.
Forecast weather development
Today variable cloudiness, especially in the afternoon snow showers will occur. A few centimetres of snow may fall. A strengthened north wind will blow. It will cool down. Freezing level will drop below 1000 m above sea level in the afternoon. Peaks in high mountains will be shrouded in cloud for a short time. In the evening it will clear up. Tomorrow mostly clear, especially in the afternoon some variable stratocumulus will form. A snow shower is not excluded. Moderate, in high mountains also strong north wind will blow, weakening in the afternoon. At midday temperature at 1500 m -2, at 2500 m -11 °C. Wednesday morning still partly clear, forenoon clouding over, towards evening precipitation will start. Snowfall limit will drop below 800 m above sea level. In most of our mountains 5 to 20 cm snow may fall. During snowfall light to moderate easterly wind will blow.
Trend in snow conditions
Today and tomorrow due to relatively cold weather snow conditions will not change substantially. A few centimetres of newly fallen snow will be quickly drifted by wind to hard base. Moderate to strong northerly will in high mountains on southern slopes rebuild some wind slabs. On sun-exposed sites below 1800 m snow will tomorrow during day only slightly soften and freeze at night. Still in high mountains on steeper slopes dangerous wind slabs, where wind slab avalanche can release on snowpack loading. Due to cold weather snow base will mostly remain frozen and may also ice up. Snow conditions will change Wednesday afternoon, when avalanche danger is expected to INCREASE.
Next bulletin: Thursday, 14. 3. 2019
Source: ARSO