Snow conditions 15.1.2018

General avalanche danger level - Monday, 15. 1. 2018

Danger is level 2 on the European 5-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: weak layers

Danger pattern: cooling after warm weather / warming after cold



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above about 1800 m is MODERATE, level 2, lower down LOW, level 1. Steep slopes are especially dangerous, particularly wind slab areas where increased load can trigger a wind slab avalanche. Danger is lower at lower elevations where there is less snow.



Snow conditions

The snowpack has settled well and frozen during cooling. A few centimetres of snow fell in places at the end of the week, on Pohorje and in parts of the eastern Karawanks up to 10 cm of fresh snow. Snow is mostly crusted, soft in the high mountains. On the crust, especially in the east, there is some new light snow.



Forecast weather evolution

Today it will gradually clear up, in the mid-mountains only in the afternoon. Tomorrow in the eastern part of our mountains moderately to mostly cloudy, elsewhere mostly cloudy and summits in clouds. Occasional light snowfall mainly in the western and southern parts of the Julian Alps and in the hills of northern Primorska and Notranjska. Snowfall limit between 500 and 800 m above sea level. Strong southwesterly wind. On Wednesday variable cloudiness with local showers, possibly thunder. Moderate to strong northwesterly wind. On Thursday mostly clear, towards the end of the week more precipitation and fairly low snowfall limit.



Trend in snow conditions

The snowpack will remain relatively stable and frozen. Slightly higher temperatures will slightly accelerate snow metamorphism.



Next issue: Wednesday, 17. 1. 2018



Source: ARSO