Snow conditions 13. 2. 2025

General avalanche danger level - Thursday, 13. 2. 2025
The danger is 2nd degree on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind-blown snow, new snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost
Danger pattern: Cold weather, fresh snow not bonded with wind

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is currently in the Julian Alps above about 2300 m MODERATE, 2nd degree, lower down and elsewhere in our mountains LOW, 1st degree. Steeper slopes with wind-blown snow are particularly dangerous, where increased load can trigger slab avalanches. Wind-exposed locations are scoured; snow drifts are mainly on northern and eastern sides of ridges and passes and in gullies. The problem is frozen and icy snow surfaces; without proper equipment, the risk of slipping is high. Below about 2300 m, the snowpack is mostly stable, with only minor snow accumulations in lee areas here and there, which can slide on steep slopes under load and cause a fall or slip on hard base.

Snow conditions
The snowpack is slowly transforming, more intensively on sun-exposed slopes. In many places on sun-exposed slopes, the crust is already thick enough to bear our weight. Except for our highest peaks, the bottom layer of snow has thoroughly refrozen and withstands heavy loads - even in drifts and on very steep slopes. On the hard base, up to 20 cm of looser snow can be found in some sheltered and more shaded locations.

Forecast weather development
Today, on Thursday, it will be mostly cloudy and foggy in places, with some clear skies possible only at the highest peaks. In the hills of western Slovenia, there will be occasional light precipitation, with snow line between 1200 and 1500 m. Mostly moderate southwesterly wind will blow. At night, precipitation will spread from the northeast, temperatures will drop. Tomorrow, the snow line will drop to the lowlands. Strong northerly winds will pick up. Precipitation will ease on Saturday night, latest in southern Slovenia. In the mountains, around 10 to about 30 cm of snow is expected, perhaps a bit more in the high Julian Alps. On Saturday, it will partly clear, more cloudy in the mid-mountains of central and southern Slovenia and perhaps still in the eastern Julian Alps and foothills. Temperatures below zero, northeasterly wind will ease. On Sunday and Monday, dry and cold weather in the mountains.

Trend in snow conditions
Due to snowfall and cooling, avalanche conditions will change tomorrow, avalanche danger will INCREASE, depending also on the amount of fresh snow. Dry snow will fall on mostly hard, partly icy base, only in shaded sheltered areas on softer old snow. A weak layer will remain under the new snow, on which fresh snow can slide. Northerly wind will blow it into drifts, mainly on southern and western sides of ridges and saddles. Particularly there, steeper slopes will be dangerous, where you can trigger dry slab avalanches even with minor load. From steep slopes, fresh unbonded snow avalanches may release spontaneously. On wind-exposed locations, risk of slipping. Due to low temperatures, snow will not transform or bond to the base much for a few days.

Next issue: Sunday, 16. 2. 2025

Source: ARSO