Snow conditions 20. 4. 2025

General danger level - Sunday, 20. 4. 2025
Danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: wet snow, gliding snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
The danger of triggering snow slab avalanches is mostly MODERATE; level 2. During the day, due to daily warming and the influence of the sun especially on sun-exposed terrain, it INCREASES. The snowpack is mostly wet and in many places saturated to the ground, but in the high mountains frozen in the morning. The surface layers of the snowpack are less bonded even in the high mountains, so the snowpack is less stable. Avalanches of wet bonded and loose snow can be triggered mainly on steep sun-exposed slopes already with minor loading, especially from late morning to evening. Individual spontaneous wet snow avalanches, as well as ground avalanches and cornice falls, are also possible.

Snow conditions
It has warmed up again, so the snow is settling and metamorphosing. At night in the high mountains it freezes, during the day it softens. Only in shady terrain in the high mountains does the snow remain mostly frozen even during the day. Lower down it is melting and disappearing. Snow and avalanche conditions are typically spring-like.

Expected weather development
Today, Sunday, mostly clear, with occasional cloudiness especially in the Julian Alps and the foothills, and peaks elsewhere may occasionally be in clouds. Freezing level at around 2500 m a.s.l. Moderate, occasionally strong southwesterly wind will blow. Tomorrow mostly translucent cirrus clouds, some peaks may occasionally be in clouds. Weak to moderate southwesterly wind. Slightly warmer than today. On Tuesday initially partly clear, then cumulus cloud development, in the afternoon some showers or thunderstorms. Easterly winds will pick up, in the high mountains a weak southwesterly wind will still blow. On Wednesday and Thursday variable to mostly cloudy, peaks often in clouds. Local showers and thunderstorms developing.

Trend in snow conditions
Spring snow and avalanche conditions will continue in the mountains. Lower down the snow will diminish, higher up it will settle and metamorphose. From Wednesday onwards, due to increased cloudiness, there will be no pronounced nocturnal cooling even in the high mountains, so only above the 0°C isotherm will the snow remain harder and partly frozen. Local precipitation will wet the snowpack again, above around 2500 m there will be some new snow. On Monday and Tuesday there will still be a significant influence of sun and daily warming, so the snowpack will be less stable midday and in the afternoon. Afterwards, due to cloudiness, the daily cycle will not be pronounced. Individual wet snow avalanches, also ground avalanches on steep slopes and in steep gullies, are possible. Above the snow line the snowpack will be more stable, but there will be some new snow there - for now it does not look like there will be more than 10 to 20 cm, and differences in quantity could be significant.

Next issue: Thursday, 24. 4. 2025

Source: ARSO