Snow conditions 13.4.2018

General danger level - Friday, 13 April 2018

Danger level is 3 on the European 5-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.

Main problem: new snow, wet snow

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is currently CONSIDERABLE, level 3. Due to new precipitation, snow below the snow line has become additionally soaked and weakened, so wet snow avalanches are still possible there. Higher up, above about 2100 m a.s.l., new snow may avalanche from steep slopes.



Snow conditions

Since Monday, the snowpack has settled somewhat further and melted at lower elevations. On Wednesday, precipitation mainly occurred in the Julian Alps area, on Thursday also elsewhere. The snow line was high, snow mostly fell above about 2100 m, in places slightly lower. Up to 50 cm of snow fell in the Julians, about 20 cm elsewhere, even less in the eastern Karawanks. New snow is dry on higher summits, wet lower down. The old snowpack is soaked from rain. Due to weak layers and poor bonding to the base, spontaneous avalanches are possible.



Forecast weather development

Today it will be mostly cloudy. Especially in the Julian Alps area, particularly the western ones, there will be occasional precipitation. The snow line will be at about 1600 m a.s.l. There won't be much precipitation, up high up to about 10 cm of snow may fall. A moderate southwesterly wind will blow. Tomorrow, Saturday, there will be sunny weather. It will be warmer, the 0°C isotherm will rise above our highest peaks. The wind will be light and mostly from the south to southeast. Sunday will initially be partly clear too, but clouding over during the day. Towards evening, precipitation will start from the south. On Monday it will be mostly cloudy, with occasional light precipitation. It will rain in the high mountains too.



Trend in snow conditions

The snowpack will melt and disappear at lower elevations, settle and transform rapidly higher up. Wet snow may avalanche from steep slopes, new snow higher up, but little spontaneous avalanching. Tomorrow and partly Sunday, due to solar influence, greater possibility of avalanching on sun-exposed high mountain slopes from mid-morning onwards. At night, snow will refreeze only in the high mountains, lower down less likely due to fairly warm air mass. Avalanche danger will slowly decrease again.



Next bulletin: Monday, 16 April 2018



Source: ARSO