Snow conditions 11.4.2016

General danger level

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

Main problems: wet snow

Danger pattern: vn10 Spring situation

Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is low at night and in the morning, level 1, but during the day it increases to level 2 due to warming. In lower altitudes, where there is little snow left, it is level 1. The snowpack is softened due to relatively warm weather and rain on Friday and Saturday, saturated to the ground in places. Therefore it is less stable; from steep slopes, especially midday and in the afternoon, individual wet snow avalanches, even full-depth ones, can release. There are still many cornices that can collapse due to the warm weather. Above around 2200 m there is little new snow, which does not pose a danger.

Snow conditions

At the end of the week cloudy weather prevailed, with some sun only on Sunday afternoon. It was somewhat less warm, the freezing level was mostly between 1900 and 2100 m. Below the snow line, due to rain the snow became even more saturated and somewhat more compact, except in the mid-mountains where it remained completely softened. Higher up, up to around 10 cm of snow fell, which has already settled considerably and refrozen. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is from 210 to around 270 cm of snow, at 1500 m from 80 to around 160 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m from 10 to around 50 cm of snow, less towards the east. Significant snow cover starts at around 1200 m elevation, on sun-facing slopes even above 1500 m, lower in the Julian Alps, higher elsewhere in our mountains. The snowpack is mostly refrozen, during the day it will thaw. The freezing level is already at the height of the highest peaks.

Forecast weather development

Today partly clear with occasional increased cloudiness. Tomorrow even sunnier, the night mostly clear. On Wednesday during the day some more variable cumulus cloudiness and in the afternoon some small showers. Freezing level high.

Trend in snow conditions

Snow will refreeze at night, except in the mid-mountains where it will remain mostly softened. During the day it will also soften in the high mountains, especially on sun-facing slopes. Lower down it will melt.



Source: ARSO