Snow conditions 19.3.2018
19.03.2018
General danger level - Monday, 19. 3. 2018
Danger is 3rd degree on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: weak layers, wind slab
Danger pattern: Cold weather, poorly bonded fresh snow with wind
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger above sea level around 1500 m is currently CONSIDERABLE, 3rd degree. Lower down it is LOW, 1st degree due to low temperatures and small amount of new snow. Especially steep slopes and areas with wind-drifted snow are dangerous. There you can trigger an avalanche even with minor snowpack loading.
Snow conditions
At the end of the week it snowed in the mountains. Initially the snow line was between 800 and 1000 m above sea level, then it slowly descended to the lowlands. In the mountains 10 up to more than 30 cm of snow fell, the most in the high mountains of the central and eastern part of the Julian Alps. Above around 1500 m the snow was dry and bonded poorly to the base, lower down initially wet, so the connection between the old snowpack and new snow is better. Wind drifted the new snow into cornices on exposed locations, in places scoured to the old base which can also be hard and icy. The snowpack is currently mostly soft and loose, especially on scoured spots and in lower elevations where little snow fell, it is hard.
Forecast weather development
In the next days cloudy and dry weather will prevail, only today there will be occasional light snowfall in places, but no significant amount of snow will fall. Northeasterly wind will weaken today, it will strengthen again on Wednesday. Temperature will remain below zero. From Thursday onwards there will be some sun, the 0-degree line will remain below 1000 m above sea level.
Trend of snow conditions
Due to low temperatures and lack of sun, snow will remain dry and loose until Wednesday, only slowly bonding and metamorphosing. On Wednesday wind will again form cornices on western and southern sides of ridges and passes. Therefore the snowpack will be potentially unstable, avalanche danger will decrease only slowly.
Next issue: Wednesday, 21. 3. 2018
Source: ARSO