Snow conditions 17.4.2015

AVALANCHE RISK ASSESSMENT



Avalanche danger is mostly level 2 above around 2000 m, lower down level 1.



The snowpack is generally stable, but today due to warm air and cloudiness overnight it did not refreeze in many places. Risk is greater in the high mountains, lower down there is too little snow.



Risk is relatively low today. Spontaneous avalanching is not expected. You may trigger an avalanche on very rare steep slopes in the high mountains and especially with greater additional stress.



SNOW CONDITIONS



In the mountains it has been mostly clear and quite warm in recent days. The freezing level was above the highest peaks, but has cooled somewhat by today. Snow has melted and decreased lower down, but mainly in the high mountains it refroze overnight and became wet during the day under the influence of the sun.



In the Julian Alps at 2500 m above sea level there is up to around 180 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to around 40 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is less snow, at 1500 m around 10 cm. Significant snow cover extends mostly to above sea level around 1300 m, on sun-facing slopes mostly above 1800 m.



CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK



The snowpack is well transformed, but today due to cloudiness it did not refreeze overnight in many places, except locally in the east and in the high mountains. Wind-exposed locations are partly bare.



FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Today and tomorrow it will be mostly cloudy. Today minor local precipitation will occur mainly in the area of the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, overnight and tomorrow also elsewhere. Tomorrow afternoon or evening the precipitation will mostly cease. Today a southwesterly wind will blow, freezing level at around 2400 m above sea level and will drop somewhat during the day. Tomorrow it will cool more markedly, at 1500 m above sea level the afternoon temperature will be around -3°C. In the mountains up to 10 to 20 cm of snow is expected by evening, the least on Pohorje and in the eastern Karawanks and below around 1500 m above sea level. The snow line will gradually drop to around 800 m above sea level, sometimes even lower. A wind from northerly directions will blow, creating wind slabs. It is expected that the new snow will bond quite well to the base, except in the high mountains where the snow has already refrozen today due to cooling.



TRENDS IN SNOW CONDITIONS



The snowpack is refrozen today only in the high mountains above around 2300 m and in the eastern part of our mountains. Today with possible local precipitation the snow line will drop below 2000 m, by tomorrow it will snow everywhere in the mountains. In the high mountains the new snow will bond poorly to the base, the wind will blow it into drifts. Lower down rain will turn to snow, so the bond between old and new snow will be better. Above all, avalanche danger will increase in the high mountains, where under additional stress a slab of new snow may release and slide on the old, harder base. Risk will be greater especially at locations with wind-deposited snow and on steeper slopes. On Sunday the new snow will remain dry in shady spots, but on sun-exposed areas it will become wet during the day, already settling and transforming, a crust will form.







Next report will be published on Monday, 20.4.2015.



Source: ARSO