Snow conditions 13.3.2019

Danger level is 1 on the European 5-level scale - LOW.

Main problem: wind slab

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is mostly LOW (1). The snowpack is mostly stable. Especially on wind-exposed slopes there is RISK OF GLIDES.



Snow conditions

On wind-exposed places, snow is wind-packed to hard and partly icy base. The snow cover is mostly well transformed, only in shady high mountain gullies there are areas with poorly transformed snow cover. There, wind crusts are still present due to wind.



Forecast weather development

Today it will cloud over, towards evening precipitation will start. Snow line will drop below 800 m above sea level. In most of our mountains, 5 to about 10 cm of snow can fall by tomorrow morning. During snowfall, weak to moderate easterly winds will blow. On Thursday it will be partly clear at first, midday and afternoon variable cloudiness with some snow showers. Weak to moderate northwesterly wind will blow. On the night to Friday there will be transient light snow in places in the mountains, but the amount of precipitation will be very small. On Friday it will partly clear, in the afternoon a small snow shower is possible. It will warm up somewhat, the freezing level will rise in the afternoon to about 1900 m above sea level.



Tendency of snow conditions

Today and tomorrow, due to relatively cold weather, snow conditions will not change significantly. The new snow will probably not increase the avalanche danger much, as there will be too little new snow. At the end of the week, when it warms up, the snowpack on sun-exposed slopes will become wet during the day and the possibility of new snow sloughing from steep slopes will increase. These will be only small sloughs.



Next issue: Friday, 15. 3. 2019



Source: ARSO