Snow conditions 15.4.2022

General danger level - Friday, 15.4.2022
The danger is level 2 on the European 5-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind slab, wet snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
The snowpack is generally stable and well bonded. The avalanche danger is currently LOW, level 1, but during the day it will increase due to the influence of warm weather and above 1800 m it will be MODERATE, level 2. Steep slopes with larger amounts of snow remaining will be particularly dangerous. There, wet snow avalanches are possible, and some slabs may also release. Due to cloudiness, shady slopes will soften more noticeably!

Snow conditions
Due to the influence of the sun and above-average warm weather in the last two days, the snow has settled and melted faster. On sufficiently open areas, the snowpack froze slightly overnight, but it will also soften and become deeply penetrable there in the coming hours. The snowpack is mostly well transformed, except in distinctly shady high mountain locations where there is still some dry and loose snow. The snow surface has been considerably reshaped by the wind. There are many wind drifts, both on the northern and southern sides of ridges and saddles. Where the wind has blown away the snow from the last storm, it is icy and therefore slippery.

Forecast weather development
Today, cloudiness will increase from the north, some summits will already be in clouds by mid-morning. Around midday, local precipitation will start to appear, partly as showers, which will spread south in the afternoon. The snow line will be around 2400 m. Wind will be light and variable. Temperature at 1500 m will be around 9, at 2500 m around 2 °C. On Saturday, it will be variable to mostly cloudy. Some showers will form, above about 1500 m as snow showers. Moderate north to northeast wind will blow. Temperature at 1500 m around 3, at 2500 m around -5 °C. On Sunday, it will be mostly clear at first, with some cloudiness in the eastern Karawanks and on Pohorje. During the day partly clear, with variable cumulus cloudiness developing. Moderate to strong northeast wind will blow. In the morning, temperature at 1500 m around -5, at 2500 m around -7 °C, during the day it will warm up a few degrees. On Monday and Tuesday, the weather will be similar, just with a bit more cloudiness. The wind will ease slightly.

Trend in snow conditions
In the coming days, conditions will become more wintry again. Due to cold weather, the snowpack will freeze and become stable. Only on more sun-exposed slopes will the snow soften a little during the day and freeze again overnight. On Saturday, a few centimeters of snow may fall with showers, otherwise it will be dry. Stable conditions will persist until mid next week. However, the risk of slipping will increase due to the cold weather! The next avalanche bulletin will be published on Wednesday, 20.4.2022.

Next issue: Wednesday, 20.4.2022

Source: ARSO