Snow conditions 18.4.2016

Danger level is 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: wet snow

Danger pattern: vn10 Spring situation

Risk assessment

The danger is MODERATE, level 2, lower where there is already little snow, SMALL, level 1. Today and tomorrow, the avalanche danger is mostly level 2. The snowpack has softened due to warm weather and local precipitation. Therefore, it is less stable; from steep slopes that have not yet cleared, individual wet snow avalanches can release, including full-depth ones. There are still some slabs that can collapse.

Snow conditions

At the end of the week, sunny weather prevailed, but the mountains were often in clouds. The snow line was above 2500 m, occasionally above the highest peaks. Today it is around 2600 m above sea level. The snow cover is melting lower down, settling and transforming higher up. Due to cloud cover and wind, the snow mostly did not refreeze overnight. The snow cover is mostly saturated to the ground. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is 190 to about 230 cm of snow, at 1500 m 30 to about 80 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, at 1500 m on sun-exposed slopes it is already bare, in shaded areas up to about 20 cm of snow. Significant snow cover in shaded areas starts at sea level around 1300 m, on sun-exposed slopes above 1900 m, lower in the Julian Alps, higher elsewhere in our mountains.

Forecast weather development

Overnight, local precipitation will occur occasionally with the passage of a weather front, mostly stopping tomorrow morning. During the day, some showers possible. The snow line may drop to around 1500 m above sea level in places. Tomorrow during the day it will clear. On Wednesday mostly clear.

Trend in snow conditions

Until tomorrow it will cool slightly. Snow line at around 2200 m above sea level. The snow cover will crust during the day even in the high mountains, mainly on sun-exposed slopes. Lower down the snow will remain soft. In the night to Wednesday, the snow cover will refreeze lower down too and soften during the day. Lower down snow will continue to melt, while in the high mountains on Tuesday and Wednesday conditions will be more typically spring-like than in recent days. Meaning, the snowpack will be somewhat more stable in the morning and partly forenoon, less stable in the midday and afternoon.



Source: ARSO