Snow conditions 19. 2. 2024

General avalanche danger level - Monday, 19. 2. 2024
The danger is 2nd degree on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind-blown snow, new snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is MODERATE, 2nd degree, in most of our mountains above about 1800 m above sea level, lower down LOW, 1st degree. During the day on sunny days, the danger increases somewhat due to warming especially on sun-exposed slopes. Areas with wind-blown snow are also more dangerous. On steeper slopes in the high mountains, individual wet snow avalanches can still release spontaneously, but mostly they can be triggered by a person on skis or touring skier.

Snow conditions
After very warm and sunny weather on Friday and Saturday, it cooled somewhat on Sunday, with no sun either. Snow in the high mountains froze somewhat due to cooling, the freezing level was around 2100 m above sea level. Today it is somewhat higher again, but due to cloudiness the snow has not crusted much. Snow in the high mountains is mostly refrozen, below around 2000 m it remains wet. The snowpack is somewhat more stable than it was up to Saturday inclusive. Conditions are more spring-like and depend on the sun or time of day.

Forecast weather development
Today, Monday, initially cloudy with possibility of minor precipitation. Weak wind blowing, moderate north to northwesterly in the afternoon. In the afternoon cloudiness will break up, gradually clearing. Cooling down, in the afternoon the 0°C isotherm a little below 1900 m above sea level, cooling even more overnight. Tomorrow initially moderately to mostly cloudy, clearing in the forenoon. 0°C isotherm around 1700 m above sea level. Weak to moderate northerly wind. Wednesday mostly clear, westerly or southwesterly wind starting to blow. Hills in the area of western and southern Julian Alps and foothills will wrap in clouds, in the afternoon clouds may start to build on ridges and peaks of Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Karawanks. Warming somewhat in altitudes in the afternoon. Thursday some sun still in eastern Karawanks and on Pohorje, elsewhere cloudy and foggy with occasional precipitation, more frequent in hills of northern Primorska, Notranjska and western Julian Alps. Snowfall limit between 1200 and 1600 m above sea level. Reinforced southwesterly wind blowing. Friday cloudy and foggy, precipitation spreading over all Slovenia, snowfall limit depending on intensity, strongest precipitation in the area of Julian Alps.

Trend of snow conditions
Tuesday and Wednesday again greater sun influence, so during the day on southern slopes snow will crust and soften, there probability of triggering an avalanche higher than in shady spots. Individual smaller spontaneous southern snow avalanches possible. Better avoid steep slopes midday and afternoon. Overnight snow will freeze, in the morning it may be hard and slip risk in places. Avalanche danger MODERATE, 2nd degree above around 1800 m, lower LOW, 1st degree. Thursday and Friday danger gradually increasing due to new snow, first in western part of our mountains, then eastward too, but less precipitation there and thus lower danger. Although snowing lower than in previous episodes, slopes below 1900 m quite crusty, so new snow not such danger as in high mountains. Southwesterly wind will transport snow and new cornices and wind slabs will form.

Next issue: Thursday, 22. 2. 2024

Source: ARSO