Snow conditions 19.2.2020

Danger is level 1 on the European 5-level scale - LOW.

Main problem: wind-blown snow, favourable conditions

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is mostly LOW, level 1. Exceptionally, under heavy load you may trigger small slab avalanches. Many slopes are icy, therefore there is a higher RISK OF SLIDES.



Snow conditions

Overnight there was light snowfall in places, but only about 1 cm of snow fell. Somewhat more, around 5 cm of new snow, in the western Julian Alps. New snow has not significantly affected snow conditions. With cooling the snow has frozen. Snowpack is mostly hard, icy in places, only in sheltered high-mountain locations there is some soft snow. Wind-blown snow is present on all aspects, but there is not much of it.



Forecast weather development

Today variable to mostly cloudy and occasionally foggy. In the morning light snowfall will cease, during the day mostly dry. In the evening short-term snow showers will form. Weak wind of variable direction will blow, in the evening moderate to strong northerly wind. Temperature at 1500 m around -2, at 2500 m -8 °C. On Thursday initially mostly clear, in the afternoon more mid-level and high clouds. In the morning still moderate northerly wind blowing, which will weaken during the day and turn to northwesterly to westerly. Temperature at 1500 m around -3, at 2500 m -9 °C. On Friday mostly clear, only some peaks in the high mountains may be occasionally in clouds. In the evening it will slightly cloud over. In the morning moderate to strong northerly wind will start blowing, which will weaken in the evening. At 1500 m around -1, at 2500 m around -6 °C.



Trend in snow conditions

Avalanche conditions will not change much. This evening with snow showers only a few centimetres of snow may fall, which the reinforced northerly will quickly blow down to the hard base. Snowpack will remain frozen due to cooling, only on pronounced northerly aspects the snow will slightly powder up. Still high RISK OF SLIDES. Exceptionally under heavy load you may trigger small slab avalanches.



Next issue: Friday, 21. 2. 2020



Source: ARSO