Snow conditions 15.1.2016

ASSESSMENT OF RISK



The avalanche danger is moderate, 2nd degree, in the high mountains above about 2100 m, and low, 1st degree, lower down and elsewhere in our mountains.



In the high mountains, you can trigger an avalanche on steeper slopes and in areas with wind-packed snow when loading the snowpack. The snow has not yet stabilized sufficiently. We no longer expect mostly spontaneous avalanches. Lower down, there is a risk of gliding due to the hard and partly icy surface of the old snowpack.





SNOW CONDITIONS and CURRENT SNOWPACK STATE



Since yesterday, 5 to about 10 cm of snow has fallen in places in our mountains. It snowed on a crusty or even hard and partly icy base. The new snow has not bonded well with the old snow in most places. The southwesterly wind has blown the new snow completely into drifts in exposed areas. But since there is little new snow, the risk of avalanches has not increased much. Currently, the snowpack is soft on the surface, with a crust under the new snow that does not support a person. Below about 2100 m, there is a hard and partly icy base under the new snow, so there is a risk of gliding there, which is not obvious at first glance in many places.



The snowpack depth is very uneven. The most snow is in the high mountains of the Julian Alps, up to about 150 cm. Elsewhere in the high mountains, there is snow up to about 50 cm or even less. Significant snow cover extends to about 1500 m in the Julian Alps, elsewhere a bit higher, and lower down there is at most 10 cm of new snow that fell on bare ground.



FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Today, snowfall will stop in the morning, and cloudiness will thin out. A light wind of variable direction will blow, in the high mountains a relatively light northwesterly wind. Temperatures will be below zero.



From tomorrow to Monday, it will be dry and cold. A northerly to northeasterly wind will strengthen, creating drifts on the southern sides of ridges and passes.



TENDENCY OF SNOW CONDITIONS



Due to low temperatures, the snowpack will settle and transform only slowly, so avalanche conditions will not change much by Monday. New drifts will form, and the risk of gliding will increase on wind-exposed slopes. The most dangerous areas will continue to be places with wind-packed snow and steeper slopes above about 2000 m, while lower down the main risk will be gliding.



The next report will be issued on Monday, 18.1.2016 in the morning.



Source: ARSO