Snow conditions 18.3.2015

The avalanche danger is in the high mountains, especially in shaded areas, mostly level 2; elsewhere level 1.



The snowpack is fairly stable. An avalanche can only be triggered by a greater load on the snowpack, primarily on steeper slopes with wind-blown snow, especially in gullies, and sun-exposed slopes are also more unstable midday and early afternoon.



The risk is somewhat higher due to wind-blown new snow at altitudes above about 1200 m in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, where the new snow is poorly bonded to the crusty base. Elsewhere, the risk is somewhat higher only on shady slopes, still primarily due to poor bonding between the old, crusty and partly icy base and the upper snow layer; on sun-exposed slopes, the snowpack becomes somewhat unstable in places with wind-blown snow during the day due to the influence of the sun or daytime warming.



SNOW CONDITIONS



In the mountains, it snowed lightly on Monday. In the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, 10 to 20 cm of snow fell, elsewhere in our mountains only about a centimetre or nothing at all. The snow line was at around 1000 m altitude. The new snow bonded poorly with the crusty base. The east to north wind blew the new snow into drifts on exposed areas. Tuesday was mostly sunny. The freezing level rose to around 1600 m altitude, but by this morning it had dropped to around 1400 m. The snowpack softened especially on sun-exposed slopes during the day, while in shaded areas it remained frozen and dry.



The snowpack depth is quite uneven. In the Julian Alps, there is up to 200 cm of snow at 2500 m altitude, and up to 110 cm at 1500 m. Elsewhere in our mountains, there is less snow.

Significant snow cover extends mostly down to around 1000 m altitude, and higher on sun-exposed slopes.



CURRENT SNOWPACK STATE



The snowpack is mostly covered with a crust that partially supports human weight. During the day, snow softens on sun-exposed slopes. In areas where it snowed on Monday, snow is still soft especially in shaded areas, elsewhere covered with a thin crust. There are many drifts and slabs that are somewhat unstable especially in shaded areas. Ridges and wind-exposed areas are quite scoured and therefore mostly hard and icy, and also bare.



FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Today and tomorrow it will be partly clear with occasional moderate cloudiness. The wind will be light and mostly easterly, northerly in the high mountains. The freezing level is at around 1400 m altitude, with no major changes until Friday morning.



SNOW CONDITION TRENDS



The avalanche danger will not change in most of our mountains. The snowpack will soften on sun-exposed slopes during the day and refreeze at night. Snow conditions in high mountain gullies will remain unchanged. There is a risk of gliding especially on wind-exposed areas, and in the morning and early afternoon also on sun-exposed slopes.



No spontaneous avalanching is expected.



The next report will be published on Friday, 20.3.2015.



Source: ARSO