Snow conditions 12.1.2018

General danger level - Friday, 12. 1. 2018

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

Main problem: weak layers

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above sea level around 1600 m, where there is approximately enough snow, is MODERATE, 2nd degree, lower down LOW, 1st degree. Especially steep slopes are dangerous, particularly places with wind-packed snow, where under greater load you can trigger a wind slab avalanche. Danger is lower at lower elevations, where there is less snow.



Snow conditions

The snowpack has already settled quite well, in the high mountains there were no stronger winds, so there are only a few new drifts in the most wind-exposed places. Higher up the snow is still soft, below around 1800 m it is crusty in many places, sometimes hard due to freezing.



Forecast weather development

Today it will be mostly clear at first, during the day it will gradually cloud over from the east, also becoming foggy. The cloud top may be below our higher summits. In the afternoon there will be occasional light snow especially in the eastern Karawanks and on Pohorje, but the amount of precipitation will be small. Mostly moderate northeast wind will blow. Freezing level around 1100 m. Tomorrow and Sunday the weather will be similar, wind weak to moderate from northeast directions. It will gradually become colder. Snow may occasionally fall elsewhere too. On Monday it will slowly clear up during the day.



Trend of snow conditions

With cooling the snowpack will freeze everywhere and stabilize. Avalanche conditions will hardly change, places with wind-packed snow on steep slopes will still be potentially more dangerous.



Next publication: Monday, 15. 1. 2018



Source: ARSO