1.04.2022
General danger level - Friday, 1.4.2022
The danger is level 3 on the European 5-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: new snow, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger due to abundant snowfall above about 1700 m is CONSIDERABLE, level 3, lower down MODERATE, level 2. Steeper slopes are particularly dangerous, where there is a thick layer of loose snow on a hard and partly icy snow cover. We expect dry snow avalanches to occur in the high mountains. Below about 1500 m wet snow fell or it rained, wet snow avalanches can still occur there.
Snow conditions
On Wednesday minor precipitation began to appear, the snow line was initially at about 1700 m. A few centimetres of snow fell in the high mountains. On Thursday precipitation intensified, the snow line dropped below 1000 m in places. Larger amounts of snow fell above about 1300 m, where 10 to 35 cm of snow fell. In the high mountains dry and loose snow fell, so the amounts are considerably higher, with 30 to 55 cm of snow falling. The wind was mostly light and created only small snow deposits around ridges and saddles. The new snow has bonded poorly to the old snow cover especially in the high mountains, so we expect the snowpack to be unstable. In the mid-mountains quite heavy wet snow fell, which has bonded somewhat better, but wet snow avalanches can still be expected from steep slopes.
Forecast weather development
Today it will still be cloudy and mostly foggy with occasional, mainly brief precipitation. The snow line will be between 1000 and 1500 m. A light to moderate southwesterly wind will blow. Temperature at 1500 m around 1, at 2500 m around -5 °C. On Saturday a cold front will reach us, precipitation will intensify again and spread over all mountains. The snow line will drop to the alpine valleys. The wind will be light and mostly from southerly directions. At midday temperature at 1500 m around -3, at 2500 m around -10 °C. In the night to Sunday precipitation will ease. On Sunday the cloud cover will gradually break up, some peaks will occasionally still be in fog. Initially a strong northerly wind will blow, weakening during the day. It will be colder. Temperature at 1500 m around -5, at 2500 m around -12 °C. On Monday partly clear with variable cloudiness, a snow shower may form. Somewhat warmer. At midday temperature at 1500 m around -2, at 2500 m around -8 °C.
Trend in snow conditions
The snowpack will continue to build up. By Saturday morning 5 to 20 cm of snow will fall above about 1300 m, locally possibly a bit more. By Sunday morning 10 to 20 cm of drier and looser snow. Mostly snowing without strong wind. On Sunday a strong northerly wind will blow, transporting snow and building small cornices, dunes and slabs at exposed places. Avalanche danger will remain CONSIDERABLE, level 3 above about 1600 m for the weekend, lower down MODERATE, level 2. On Monday it will temporarily decrease. The next avalanche bulletin will be published on Monday, 4.4.2022.
Next issue: Monday, 4.4.2022
Source: ARSO