Snow conditions 19.2.2021

Danger level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.

Main problem: weak layers, wet snow, gliding snow

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above about 1500 m altitude is CONSIDERABLE, level 3, lower down MODERATE, level 2. On sun-exposed slopes and in mid-mountain areas, the snowpack softens and becomes additionally unstable in sunny weather during the day, spontaneous wet snow avalanches and also gliding avalanches can be triggered there especially. In high mountains, steep slopes and places with wind-packed snow are dangerous, also gullies where wind has deposited snow or weak layers are present. Even with small additional load on the snowpack you can trigger a slab avalanche. Icy surfaces have increased, so slipping is also dangerous.



Snow conditions

Due to the thaw, the snowpack has started to settle and transform faster, especially on sun-exposed aspects in mid-mountain and lower even melting. The snowpack is mostly crusty and also icy. The crust formed due to wind and due to daily melting and nightly freezing. Only in shady areas is the snow in high mountains still powdery and soft in places. There are many slabs and wind crusts. Ridges are heavily wind-scoured and also icy, in places the snow surface is also hard. During the day in sunny weather on sunlit aspects snow softens and becomes wet, at night it freezes.



Forecast weather development

Today moderately to mostly cloudy, on slopes south of Bohinj Ridge to Snežnik cloudy or foggy. Weak southwesterly wind will blow. Wind will be more pronounced only in higher locations of the southern half of Slovenia. Temperature at 1500 m around 2, at 2500 m around -2 °C. Tomorrow mostly clear, on slopes south of Bohinj Ridge to Snežnik cloudy or foggy, occasionally low cloud reaching also to Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Weak southwesterly wind will blow. Wind more pronounced only in higher locations of southern half of Slovenia. Warmer. Temperature at 1500 m around 4, at 2500 m around 0 °C. Also on Sunday and Monday weather similar. Westerly winds will strengthen somewhat. Very warm! On 1500 m on Monday from 4 to 8, on 2500 m around 4 °C.



Tendency of snow conditions

The snowpack will settle and transform even faster in the coming days, in shady areas this process will be much slower, as due to relatively low air humidity the snow will initially remain dry and poorly transformed. During the day it will soften on sunlit aspects, at night freeze. At midday and in the afternoon, especially on sun-exposed slopes, the danger of spontaneous wet snow slab avalanches and gliding avalanches will increase. The snowpack will be most stable on sun-exposed slopes early in the morning and partly in the forenoon. In shady areas of high mountains, weak layers will still be present in the snowpack, where you can trigger a slab avalanche even with minor loads. Due to nightly freezing of the snowpack there will be high risk of slipping. At the beginning of next week, with pronounced warming, avalanche danger will further INCREASE and during the day in sunny weather be HIGH, level 4! Large wet snow avalanches expected.



Next bulletin: Monday, 22.2.2021



Source: ARSO