Snow conditions 18. 4. 2024

General danger level - Thursday, 18. 4. 2024
The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind slab
Danger pattern: Cold weather, fresh snow not bonded with wind

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger in the high mountains, above about 1800 m above sea level is MODERATE, level 2, lower down SLIGHT, level 1. Spontaneous avalanching is mostly not expected anymore, only in sunny weather in the middle of the day and afternoon can some avalanche be triggered from steep sun-exposed slopes, especially we can trigger an avalanche on steeper slopes with wind slab. Locally there may also be gliding or surface hoar in the snowpack. On wind-scoured spots the old base is frozen and hard, there is a risk of slipping there.

Snow conditions
On Tuesday it snowed in the mountains, the snow line quickly dropped quite low. In the mountains 10 to 40 cm of snow fell, the most in the Julian Alps and western and central Karawanks, during thunderstorms gliding or surface hoar was possible. During snowfall first a strong southwest wind blew, then a strong wind from northern directions, which transported snow into wind slabs. Wind-exposed locations are scoured to the old base, which froze upon cooling, such locations are also icy. New snow is mostly dry and soft, locally crusty due to wind, below about 1800 m in sun-exposed aspects crust formed due to daytime melting and nighttime freezing. There are quite a few wind slabs.

Forecast weather development
Today, on Thursday, variable to mostly cloudy. Especially in the afternoon local snow showers will form. Zero isotherm is at about 1300 m above sea level. Mostly light northeast wind will blow. At night it will clear, tomorrow partly clear with some high clouds. In the afternoon a snow shower is not excluded. Wind will be light, in the morning from northern to northeast directions, in the afternoon west or southwest wind. Zero isotherm will rise to about 1500 m above sea level. On Saturday mostly cloudy again, occasionally snowing in the mountains, but the amount of precipitation will be small, possibly 5 to max 10 cm of snow. Moderate wind from northern directions. Zero at about 1500 m above sea level.

Tendency of snow conditions
In the coming days due to cold weather snow and avalanche conditions will not change much. Below about 1500 m snow will slowly decrease, especially on sun-exposed slopes, higher up it will only slowly settle and transform. In sunny weather it can refreeze on the surface and a thin crust form. On Saturday some new snow, but not everywhere, the amount will also be too small for a change of conditions. Risk of slipping on wind-scoured spots will continue, the main danger will be wind slabs on steeper slopes in the high mountains.

Next issue: Friday, 19. 4. 2024

Source: ARSO