1.04.2019
The danger level is 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: weak layers, wind slab, new snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Danger assessment
The avalanche danger is LOW, level 1. During the day, on sun-exposed slopes due to solar influence, it increases to MODERATE, level 2. Dangerous are mainly steep sun-exposed slopes in high mountains, especially at places with wind slab, where with greater load on the snowpack from late morning to late afternoon you can trigger a small avalanche.
Snow conditions
The snowpack is mostly well transformed. The snow is mainly crusty and hard, except in some shady high mountain locations where there is still some soft, even wind-packed snow. Wind-exposed locations are largely scoured to the old, hard and partly icy base. Snow is frozen in the morning, during the day on sun-exposed locations it becomes wet and softens and becomes somewhat more unstable.
Forecast weather development
Today it will be mostly clear. Weak to moderate easterly wind will blow. Zero isotherm will be at altitude between 2200 and 2400 m above sea level. Initially in the eastern Julian Alps and in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps it will be somewhat cloudier, the peak of cloudiness expected around 2000 m above sea level. During the day cumulus clouds will form in the mountains, some peaks will occasionally be in clouds. Small shower not excluded. Wind will turn to southwest during the day. On Wednesday there will be some sunny weather mainly in the eastern Karawanks, elsewhere changeable to mostly cloudy. In the Julian Alps and western and central Karawanks there will be occasional light precipitation, somewhat more in the western Julian Alps. Somewhat colder, freezing level around 1800 m above sea level, snow line around 1500 m. Moderate, in high mountains strong southerly to southwesterly wind.
Tendency of snow conditions
The snowpack today and partly tomorrow due to sunny and warmer weather will melt especially on sun-exposed slopes during the day and freeze at night, crust will strengthen. In shady high mountain locations snow will remain mostly soft and poorly transformed. Especially from Wednesday onwards the air will be more humid, so it will transform faster also in shady locations. On Wednesday there will be some precipitation in the west, by evening up to 10 cm of snow expected in the western Julian Alps.
Next issue: Wednesday, 3.4.2019
Source: ARSO