Snow conditions 16.4.2018
16.04.2018
General avalanche danger level - Monday, 16.4.2018
The danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: wet snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation
Risk assessment
The avalanche danger is currently CONSIDERABLE, level 3. The snowpack freezes overnight but softens during the day and becomes more unstable by midday. Steeper slopes, especially sun-exposed ones, and areas with wind slab in the high mountains are dangerous. Individual wet snow avalanches can still release from steep grassy slopes.
Snow conditions
At the end of the week, it was initially sunny, then cloudier but quite warm. The freezing level was above our peaks. Snow melted and settled, froze at night, and softened during the day. The snowpack is still poorly transformed, especially on northern aspects. The condition of the snowpack depends on the weather. In cloudy weather, the snow does not freeze and remains southerly and softer even in the morning. The snow line during possible precipitation is high, and it may occasionally snow only on the highest peaks.
Forecast weather development
Today it will be mostly cloudy and occasionally foggy. Especially midday and afternoon, there will be local showers and thunderstorms, possibly with individual heavy downpours. The snow line will be at around 2300 m above sea level. Tomorrow will also be quite cloudy and foggy, but local precipitation will be less frequent and lighter than today, mostly occurring only in the afternoon. A northeast wind will blow. From midweek onward, it will be sunny.
Trend in snow conditions
The snowpack will melt and disappear at lower elevations, while higher up it will settle and transform rapidly. Wet snow may slide from steep slopes. The greater chance of snow slab avalanches will be midday and afternoon, especially from midweek onward. The avalanche danger will slowly decrease, but since there is still a lot of snow in the mountains, conditions, especially in the high mountains, will not stabilize soon. In the morning and forenoon, the snowpack will be fairly stable.
Next bulletin: Thursday, 19.4.2018
Source: ARSO