Snow conditions 16.3.2022

General avalanche danger level - Wednesday, 16. 3. 2022
The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wet snow, gliding snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
The avalanche danger is mostly LOW, level 1, but today and tomorrow during the day, especially on sun-exposed slopes, it will increase and be MODERATE, level 2. The snowpack is mostly well bonded, but during the day due to the influence of the sun and warmer weather it will soften and become less stable. Spontaneous small to medium-sized wet snow avalanches are possible. Caution especially on steep grassy slopes where gliding avalanches are possible. The slipping hazard will temporarily decrease somewhat due to the thaw, but in shady areas of the high mountains it will remain quite icy.

Snow conditions
Already yesterday in the elevations with the influx of warmer air mass it warmed up considerably, but the snowpack did not transform so quickly due to cloudy weather. During the day the snow became crusty especially in the mid-mountains, at night it froze only above the forest line. Locally it was also wet. The snowpack will initially be relatively stable, but during the day it will soften due to the sun's influence and melt faster in the mid-mountains. Especially on sun-exposed slopes the snow will become more unstable, so we expect wet snow avalanches as well. Since the snowpack depth is relatively modest for this time, the snow avalanches will also be less frequent and less extensive than expected in such a spring situation. In shady locations in the high mountains the snow will remain mostly hard and crusty. In sheltered locations some softer, wind-packed snow will remain. Yesterday and last night a strong westerly wind blew, which locally transported snow. The snowpack depth is very uneven. Sun-exposed locations are quite bare high up. Wind-exposed locations are heavily wind-scoured, even to the bare ground.

Forecast weather development
Today it will be moderately to mostly cloudy, initially foggy locally. More sun in the afternoon. The atmosphere will be quite hazy due to desert dust. In the mid-mountains in the morning and partly in the forenoon a light to moderate wind from westerly directions will blow, then northwesterly, which will also blow in the high mountains. There it will be moderate, occasionally strong. Temperature at 1500 m around 4, at 2500 m around -1 °C. On Thursday partly clear with occasional increased cloudiness, more in the morning and forenoon. Light easterly to northeasterly wind will blow. A few degrees colder. Temperature at 1500 m around -1, at 2500 m around -3 °C. On Friday partly clear, variable cumulus cloudiness will form, more in the eastern mountain ranges. Light to moderate northeasterly wind will blow. Temperature at 1500 m from -3 to +2, at 2500 m around -5 °C, colder in the eastern mountain ranges.

Trend in snow conditions
The spring situation will persist in the coming days. Relatively warm weather will continue on Thursday as well. In the morning the avalanche danger will be LOW, level 1, but during the day it will increase and be MODERATE, level 2. Due to the cooling, the snowpack will gradually stabilize on Friday. Nevertheless, during the day on sun-exposed slopes the snowpack will become somewhat crusty, at night it will freeze. Especially in the morning and forenoon there will still be considerable slipping hazard. The next avalanche bulletin will be published on Friday, 18.3.2022.

Next issue: Friday, 18. 3. 2022

Source: ARSO