1.04.2015
Avalanche danger is mostly level 2.
The snowpack is already fairly stable, the upper layer of snow on the old, crusty base is somewhat unstable, lower down the old snow is soaked through to the ground.
The risk is moderate. Spontaneous avalanches are not expected. You can trigger an avalanche mainly with greater additional loading of the snowpack on steeper slopes and in places with wind-packed snow. Below about 1400 m the snow is soaked through to the ground, so individual full-depth avalanches of wet old snow are possible there on steep, especially grassy or leaf-covered slopes mainly midday and in the afternoon with possible sunny weather.
SNOW CONDITIONS
In the mountains it was variably cloudy, no significant precipitation occurred. The freezing level was at altitudes between 1400 and 1600 m. The upper snow layer transformed and settled quickly. The wind did not form new drifts. During the day the snow froze on sun-exposed slopes, at night it refroze and the crust strengthened. Only in shady and sheltered locations in the high mountains is the snow still soft on the surface in places.
Snowpack height is quite uneven. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m altitude there is up to about 220 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 80 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is less snow, at 1500 m up to about 30 cm. Significant snow cover mostly extends to about 1100 m altitude, on sun-facing slopes mostly above about 1400 m.
CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK
The snowpack is mostly crusted over, on wind-exposed sites it is mainly hard with snow scoured to the old base. Below about 1400 m the snow is waterlogged. There are many drifts and slabs. During the day with possible sunny weather the snow softens on sun-facing slopes.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today it will be variably to mostly cloudy, isolated showers possible. A strong northwesterly will blow. Tomorrow there will be slightly less cloud cover and no significant precipitation, a strong northwesterly will still blow. Minor transient precipitation in the evening and night to Friday. Today it will temporarily cool slightly, tomorrow during the day it will warm up a bit again. The freezing level will fluctuate by about 300 vertical meters between 1300 and 1600 m.
TRENDS IN SNOW CONDITIONS
Avalanche conditions will hardly change. Avalanche danger will be mostly level 2. Since there will not be much sunshine, no major solar influence is expected today during the day, tomorrow perhaps a little more. The snowpack will stabilize slowly.
The next report will be published on Friday, 3.4.2015 in the afternoon.
Source: ARSO