Snow conditions 20.11.2017

General danger level - Monday, 20.11.2017

The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: wind-blown snow

Danger pattern: Cold weather, fresh snow drifted by wind



Risk assessment

The avalanche danger is above about 1900 m MODERATE, level 2, lower down LOW, level 1. Steeper slopes with WINDBLOWN SNOW are particularly hazardous, where you can trigger a slab avalanche under load on the snowpack. Spontaneous avalanching is unlikely.



Snow conditions

On Friday daytime it cooled down, the freezing level was at the end of the week mostly around 1000 m above sea level. The snowpack below about 2000 m froze and stabilized somewhat. The sun did not significantly affect snow transformation, except below 1000 m. The snowpack is now mostly crusty, only in sheltered shady spots is the snow soft in places. The crust does not support human weight. There are many drifts, ridges and summits are heavily wind-scoured, in places down to bare ground. The snowpack starts at quite varying elevations above sea level.



Forecast weather development

Today it will be mostly clear. The northerly wind in the high mountains will weaken. Tomorrow it will cloud over mainly in the mid-mountains of the western and southern Julian Alps, elsewhere mostly clear. A southwesterly will blow, in the high mountains a moderate northwesterly. The freezing level will rise by afternoon to about 2200 m above sea level. On Wednesday it will be somewhat warmer, the freezing level above our highest peaks. A westerly to southwesterly wind will blow. Cloudiness will mostly persist over the hills of Notranjska and northern Primorska and the area of the southern and western Julian Alps.



Tendency of snow conditions

With gradual warming tomorrow and on Wednesday, the snowpack will settle somewhat and thus become somewhat less stable, so avalanche danger in the mid-mountains will temporarily increase slightly again. It will settle and transform faster.



Next issue: Thursday, 23.11.2017



Source: ARSO