Snow conditions 13.5.2019
13.05.2019
The danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: weak layers, wind slab, new snow
Danger pattern: cooling after warm weather / warming after frost
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger in the high mountains above about 1800 m is primarily in the central and eastern Julian Alps and in the central Karawanks CONSIDERABLE, level 3, elsewhere in the high mountains MODERATE, level 2, and lower down mostly LOW, level 1. Steep slopes and places with wind-blown snow are dangerous, where with greater loading of the snowpack you can trigger primarily slab avalanches. In the high mountains, from steep slopes it is still possible to trigger a smaller or medium-sized avalanche of new unbonded snow or a slab. Lower down, the snow melted with rain, but when the snow line lowered, only a little snow fell.
Snow conditions
In the high mountains, up to about 40 cm of snow fell in places, gradually, mostly within 48 hours. There the snow is soft and light, there are many drifts especially on the western and southern sides of ridges and saddles. Wind-exposed places are heavily scoured. Lower down it mostly rained, the snow there is settled and transformed.
Forecast weather development
Today and tomorrow it will be cloudy and locally foggy. Occasional precipitation. The snow line today will be between 1100 and 1600 m, lower towards the east, higher towards the west. Tomorrow the snow line will drop further to around 800 m in the east and 1200 m in the west. Today the focus of precipitation will be more in the eastern part of the country, tomorrow the precipitation will be more evenly distributed but less. A strong northeast wind will blow. It will be cold. On Wednesday and Thursday there will be occasional minor precipitation. In the high elevations it will gradually become somewhat warmer again, so the snow line will gradually rise somewhat.
Trend in snow conditions
The new snow will settle slowly. Larger amounts of new snow in the high mountains are not expected, so it will probably not affect avalanche conditions. The northeast wind will transport snow and form new drifts. Avalanche danger in the high mountains will remain MODERATE, level 2, for some time.
Next bulletin: Wednesday, 15.5.2019
Source: ARSO