Snow conditions 12. 4. 2024

General danger level - Friday, 12. 4. 2024
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wet snow, new snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation
Danger pattern: Cold weather, poorly bonded fresh snow with wind

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is LOW in the morning and forenoon, level 1, during the day it increases to MODERATE, level 2 due to daytime thaw. Especially from steeper sun-exposed slopes, smaller wet snow avalanches can still release spontaneously. In the morning hours, the snow is frozen, hence risk of slipping.

Snow conditions
After transitional cooling, it has warmed up again in the mountains. With warm weather, rapid transformation of the snowpack continues, which is also noticeably settling and becoming increasingly wet even in the high mountains. Overnight a thin crust forms on the surface, which then softens on pronounced shady slopes already in the morning. Consolidated snow cover starts at elevation 1900-2000 m on shady sides, in sunny aspects it reaches up to about 1500 m. On the surface and in upper snow layers there is desert dust, which somewhat accelerates snowmelt.

Forecast weather development
At the end of the week, sunny and increasingly warm weather will continue. On Friday and Saturday there will be some scattered cloudiness. Weak wind of variable direction will blow. Zero isotherm will rise to sea level around 3700 m. Temperature at 1500 m on Friday still around 12, at 2500 m around 5 °C. On Saturday and Sunday it will warm up more noticeably. On Sunday thus at 1500 m around 16, at 2500 m around 10 °C. On Monday cloudiness will gradually increase, some summits will be in fog. In the afternoon local precipitation possible. Moderate to strong westerly winds will blow. Slightly cooler. On Tuesday a pronounced cold front with more abundant precipitation will likely reach us. Snowfall limit will drop all the way to alpine valleys.

Tendency of snow conditions
With warm weather, the snowpack will continue to transform rapidly, settle and melt. Overnight in high mountains a crust will form on the snowpack surface, but due to rising temperature it will be less pronounced each day. Especially from steep slopes and walls, wet snow avalanches will still release spontaneously during the day. Avalanche danger will increase slightly by the end of the week due to warming. Danger will be more pronounced in higher elevations of high mountains, where during previous thaw the slopes have not fully avalanched. On Tuesday more pronounced deterioration is expected with strengthened wind and snowfall.

Next issue: Monday, 15. 4. 2024

Source: ARSO