Snow conditions 20.3.2015

Avalanche danger is in the high mountains, especially in shady areas, mostly 2nd degree; elsewhere 1st degree.



The snowpack is fairly stable. An avalanche can only be triggered by greater loading of the snowpack, especially on steeper slopes with wind-blown snow, particularly in gullies, and south-facing slopes are also more unstable in the middle of the day and early afternoon.



The risk is somewhat higher due to wind-blown new snow at elevations above about 1400 m in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks. Elsewhere, the risk is somewhat higher only on shady slopes, still mainly due to poor bonding between the old, crusted and partially icy base and the upper snow layer; on sun-exposed slopes, the snowpack becomes somewhat unstable in places with wind-blown snow during the day due to the influence of the sun or daytime warming.



SNOW CONDITIONS



In the mountains, it was mostly sunny. The snow line was at about 1400 m elevation. The snowpack softened especially on sun-exposed slopes during the day, but remained frozen and dry in shady areas.



The snowpack depth is quite uneven. In the Julian Alps, at 2500 m elevation there is up to 200 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to 100 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is less snow, at 1500 m around 60 cm.

Significant snow cover extends mostly to about 1000 m elevation, higher on sun-exposed aspects.



CURRENT SNOWPACK STATE



The snowpack is mostly covered with a crust that partially supports human weight. During the day, snow softens on sun-exposed slopes. There are many wind slabs and slabs that are somewhat unstable especially in shady areas. Ridges and wind-exposed areas are quite scoured and therefore mostly hard and icy, even bare.



FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Today it will be mostly clear, only in the hills of northern Primorska and Notranjska and in the western Julian Alps there will occasionally be some cloudiness. The wind will be light. Tomorrow the southwest wind will strengthen, cloudiness will gradually increase from the west. On Sunday it will be cloudy and foggy, with occasional precipitation, the snow line at about 800 m elevation. In the afternoon, precipitation will gradually subside, cloudiness will break up in the west. Up to 10 cm of snow may fall, more in the Julian Alps and Karawanks, less elsewhere in our mountains. With this amount, the avalanche risk will not increase much.



SNOW CONDITIONS TREND



Avalanche danger will not change today and tomorrow. The snowpack will soften on sun-exposed slopes during the day and refreeze at night. Snow conditions in high mountain gullies will remain unchanged. Especially on wind-exposed areas, and in the morning and early afternoon also on sun-exposed slopes, there is a risk of gliding. On Sunday, due to the predicted small amount of precipitation, the avalanche risk will not change much.



No spontaneous avalanching is expected.



The next report will be published on Monday, 23.3.2015.



Source: ARSO