Snow conditions 12.4.2019
12.04.2019
Danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: weak layers, wind slab, new snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE, 3rd degree, in the high mountains of most of our mountains above sea level around 1800 m, lower down mostly LOW, 1st DEGREE. Steeper slopes above around 1800 m above sea level are particularly dangerous, where even under minor snowpack loading a new snow avalanche can release, individual avalanches of poorly bonded new snow can also release spontaneously. Lower down the old snow cover is mostly settled and metamorphosed and therefore stable.
Snow conditions
Since midweek up to 70 cm of snow has fallen in total in the high mountains of the central and eastern Julian Alps, Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps. New snow is soft and light. Due to the wind, drifts have formed, mainly on western and southern sides of ridges and saddles. Wind-exposed sites are scoured. Lower down, where it rained, snow is wet.Because it is already fully metamorphosed and settled, it mostly does not slide.
Expected weather development
Today cloudy and foggy. Occasionally light snow in places, but the quantity will be negligible and will not influence avalanche conditions. Light to moderate northeasterly wind will blow. Tomorrow cloudy and locally foggy without noteworthy precipitation. Easterly winds will still blow. Similar weather also on Sunday. Cloudiness may break in western Julian Alps. On Monday it will clear somewhat mainly in the western part of our mountains.
Trend of snow conditions
Due to low temperatures and cloudy foggy weather, the snowpack will settle only slowly. Wind will redistribute snow and form drifts on southern and western sides of ridges and saddles. Next week with partial clearing and inflow of somewhat warmer air snow will transform and settle faster, snowpack will gradually stabilize, crust will form mainly on sun-exposed aspects.
Next issue: Monday, 15. 4. 2019
Source: ARSO