Snow conditions 18.12.2019

The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: wind slab, wet snow

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is currently in the high mountains above sea level around 1800 m MODERATE, level 2, lower down mostly LOW, level 1. In the warm weather, the snow cover has settled and lower down soaked through to the ground. On steep grassy slopes, a wet snow slab avalanche can still be triggered there. In the high mountains, a slab avalanche can be triggered on steep and moderately steep slopes even under a small load, spontaneous avalanches are not entirely unlikely, but only on steep slopes.



Snow conditions

In the western and central part of the Julian Alps, up to 20 cm of snow fell above around 2200 m. The snow is transforming and settling in the warm and mostly cloudy weather, also melting in the mid-mountains. The snow cover is mostly wet and soft, only in the high mountains above around 2300 m is the snow still firm in places. There are many slabs under which there is a weak layer at the old snow interface.



Forecast weather development

In the mountains, it will be cloudy and foggy in the next few days with occasional precipitation, only on Pohorje and in the eastern Karawanks mostly dry and occasionally sunny. The snow line will be on Thursday at sea level around 2000 m, initially possibly higher in places, on Friday it will drop to around 1500 m. More precipitation in the western part of the Julian Alps. Moderate to strong southwesterly will blow. The zero isotherm, which these days is at the height of our highest peaks or even higher, will drop to around 2200 m above sea level on Friday.



Trend of snow conditions

Today below 2500 m the snow cover will stabilize a bit more, the snow will especially melt and thin in the mid-mountains. In the western and central Julian Alps it will rain in places, above around 2200 m it will snow. Tomorrow due to more pronounced precipitation, the avalanche danger in the Julian Alps will increase. Above the snow line, new snow will increase the danger, lower down rain that will soak the snow cover even more. By Friday morning up to 20 to around 40 cm of snow can fall in the Julian Alps, more in the western part, the amount will also depend on the altitude. The strong southwesterly will blow the new snow into wind slabs. Therefore, the avalanche danger will INCREASE there, elsewhere the avalanche conditions will not change much.



Next bulletin: Saturday, 21. 12. 2019



Source: ARSO