Snow conditions 1. 2. 2024

General avalanche danger level - Thursday, 1. 2. 2024
The danger is level 1 on the European 5-level scale - LOW.
Main problem: wind slab, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
The avalanche danger is LOW, level 1, the snowpack is mostly stable and well bonded. Especially around ridges and saddles there are still areas with wind slabs where, under heavy load, it is still possible to trigger a small slab avalanche. Many areas are hard and icy, so there is a high risk of slipping.

Snow conditions
On sun-exposed slopes, the snow has melted daily and frozen at night, with more and more bare patches on pronounced sun-exposed areas. The snowpack is already largely well consolidated. Today, due to cloud cover, the snow will not melt as pronouncedly. In shady areas, the snow is crusty and mostly penetrates, with some dry snow in places, and refreezing occurring in some spots. Wind-exposed locations are hard and frozen, in places scoured to the ground or to the old, hard base. Old slabs are still present, mostly well anchored to the base.

Forecast weather development
The period of dry weather continues. Today, Thursday, much of our mountains have already clouded over, but the clouds are above our highest peaks. In the afternoon, light precipitation will occur, with the snow line around 1800 m above sea level. In the high mountains, a centimeter of snow may fall. Currently, the wind is light, in the afternoon a fresh northerly wind will blow especially in the high mountains. Temperature at 1500 m around 4, at 2500 m around -2 °C. Tomorrow, Friday, moderately to mostly cloudy and cooler weather. A light to moderate northwesterly wind will blow, also in the high mountains. Temperature at 1500 m around 0, at 2500 m around -7 °C. For the weekend, mostly sunny weather is expected, especially Saturday afternoon with increased high cloudiness. Noticeably warmer. The zero isotherm will be at altitudes from 2500 m to 3200 m. A light to moderate westerly wind will blow.

Trend in snow conditions
The snowpack will not change much today and tomorrow. With nighttime clearing and cooling, the snow will also freeze in the mid-mountains. Greater changes will occur at the end of the week, when fully spring-like conditions are expected. The avalanche release danger will increase due to daytime warming, especially above the treeline, and will be MODERATE, level 2, in the midday and afternoon. Since the air will be relatively dry, no major slides are expected. In shady areas, the snowpack will not change much.

Next issue: Friday, 2. 2. 2024

Source: ARSO