Snow conditions 20. 3. 2025

General avalanche danger level - Thursday, 20 March 2025
Danger is level 3 on the European 5-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: weak layers, wind slab, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Danger pattern: Rain

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1800 m, level 3, and MODERATE below, level 2. In the high mountains, wind slab areas are particularly dangerous, where slab avalanches can be triggered with little additional load. On sun-exposed slopes, the probability of spontaneous wet snow avalanches increases during the day. On steep grassy slopes, gliding avalanches may also occur. Lower danger in the mid-mountains, where there is considerably less snow.

Snow conditions
Since Monday, clear and dry weather has prevailed in the mountains. It was initially cold, but now it has warmed up considerably. The snowpack has remained loose in shaded areas, especially in the high mountains, where it only snowed during the last storm. Settlement has been occurring in the snowpack. In the mid-mountains, the snowpack is more distinctly crusted. The snowpack is frozen in the morning but softens during the day under solar influence. The crust is strengthening. There are numerous slabs, wind drifts and cornices, especially in the high mountains. Snow depth increases markedly with elevation. In the high mountains, weak layers persist in the old snowpack, especially on north aspects deep below the new snow.

Forecast weather development
Today, Thursday afternoon, clear. Mostly light westerly winds. Temperature at 1500 m around 3, at 2500 m around 0 °C. Friday initially clear, clouding over from the west in the afternoon, but cloud base mostly above summits. Light westerly winds. Saturday cloudy and foggy, light precipitation starting in the Julian Alps area, intensifying and spreading to most other mountains in the afternoon. Snow line initially around 1500 m, rising to around 1800 m by evening. Moderate winds, possibly strong southwest in high mountains. Temperature at 1500 m around 4, at 2500 m around -2 °C. Sunday precipitation intensifying. Snow line around 2000 m or higher. Moderate to strong southerly to southwesterly winds. Temperature at 1500 m around 5, at 2500 m around -2 °C.

Trend in snow conditions
Today and tomorrow, snow and avalanche conditions will not change much. Greater caution needed on sun-exposed slopes, and in high mountains also due to wind slab. Saturday and especially Sunday expect deterioration. During thaw, larger avalanches will release. Total snowfall in high Julian Alps above around 2200 m could exceed 50 cm.

Next issue: Sunday, 23 March 2025

Source: ARSO