Snow conditions 14.2.2019

The danger level is 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.

Main problem: wind slab, wet snow

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold



Risk assessment

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE, level 3, in the mountains above about 1500 m altitude, and MODERATE, level 2, lower down, but during the day due to the influence of sun and warming on sun-exposed slopes it INCREASES everywhere. Especially around midday and in the afternoon, ground avalanches can release from steep, grassy slopes. Moderate to strong wind has been transporting snow in recent days and building wind slabs, slabs and deposits. Particularly dangerous are places with wind-packed snow on shady and steeper slopes above the forest line, where an avalanche can be triggered with moderate load on the snowpack. Most slabs are on northern and eastern sides of ridges and saddles, and also on southern sides, where snow has started to bond to the base earlier due to warmer weather.



Snow conditions

Sunny and warmer weather has accelerated settling and transformation of the snowpack mainly on sun-exposed slopes. Snow freezes at night, but softens during the day on sun-exposed and partly shaded locations. Snow in shady high mountain locations is still mostly soft, with crust forming in places due to wind. Strong northerly wind has scoured snow down to the hard base on exposed locations. Especially in mid-mountains and lower locations, the rounding process has accelerated. Crust is also present. In lower locations, snow is soft and wet during the day. Differences between sun-exposed and shaded aspects are increasing.



Forecast weather development

Today there will be temporarily more medium and high cloud cover, which will slowly retreat in the morning. On Friday it will be mostly clear in the morning and forenoon, but in the afternoon it will become moderately cloudy over the Pohorje area, eastern Karavanke and Snežnik. Peaks above 1500 m altitude may temporarily be in clouds. Moderate northerly winds will continue to blow. Today around midday at 1500 m it will be about 5, at 2500 m -2 °C. Tomorrow it will be temporarily one degree colder. On Saturday, Sunday and early next week it will be clear and even warmer, with weak local winds prevailing. At 1500 m around midday about 8, at 2500 m 0 °C. The air mass will be very dry.



Trend in snow conditions

The snowpack will transform rapidly especially at the end of the week on sun-exposed slopes and melt in mid-mountains. Especially around midday and in the afternoon, ground avalanches will release from steep, mainly grassy slopes. At night snow will freeze everywhere. The transformation process will be slower in high mountains, especially in more shaded areas, where conditions will remain largely unchanged. Avalanche danger will mostly be MODERATE, level 2, but during the day it will INCREASE especially on sun-exposed slopes. In high mountains, places with wind-packed snow will remain dangerous, especially in shaded areas, where snow will transform only slowly.



Next issue: Sunday, 17.2.2019



Source: ARSO