Snow Conditions 11.4.2023

General danger level - Tuesday, 11.4.2023
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind slab, new snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is currently above about 1800 m MODERATE, level 2, lower down LOW, level 1. Particularly dangerous are steep slopes with wind-drifted snow on variously oriented aspects. There, under greater load, you can trigger slab avalanches. With warming, smaller to medium-sized loose snow avalanches may occur from walls and gullies. Lower down, the snowpack is mostly stable and well transformed. Wind-exposed locations are scoured to the old base.

Snow conditions
At the end of the week, frequent snow showers occurred in the mountains. On hard and partly icy ground, 10 to 30 cm of dry snow fell, which strong northeast wind drifted on exposed locations overnight to Monday. On Monday it cleared up, new snow hardened and partly slid in places, forming a crust. Today it has warmed up, the 0 °C isotherm is currently at about 2300 m, but due to cloudy weather in the high mountains, the new snow has not yet begun to transform. The snowpack is hard and icy in scoured areas. Lower down, conditions are more spring-like, the snowpack has hardened.

Forecast weather development
This afternoon it will first clear up, towards evening it will become cloudy again. In the evening, local showers will occur. The snow line will drop to about 1500 m. Initially a light to moderate west to northwest wind will blow, in the evening a northeast wind. Temperature at 1500 m around 5, at 2500 m around -2 °C. On Wednesday mostly cloudy and foggy. Especially in the morning light precipitation possible. Light south to southwest wind. Temperature at 1500 m around 3, at 2500 m around -3 °C. On Thursday cloudy and foggy with heavy snowfall. The snow line will drop to the alpine valleys in the morning or midday. During snowfall initially moderate southwest wind, in the afternoon northeast wind. Temperature at 1500 m around 0, at 2500 m around -4 °C. On Friday snowfall will weaken. Still cloudy and foggy. Light wind. Slightly colder, temperature at 1500 m around -1, at 2500 m around -8 °C.

Trend in snow conditions
Snow and avalanche conditions will not change significantly on Wednesday, due to thaw a south-facing snow avalanche may occur. On Thursday, heavier snowfall is expected, up to 40 to 80 cm of snow may fall by evening, most in the Julian Alps area. From Thursday evening to Friday evening another 10 to 30 cm. Avalanche danger will distinctly INCREASE and above 1500 m at least CONSIDERABLE (significant), level 3.

Next issue: Friday, 14.4.2023

Source: ARSO