Snow conditions 21.11.2018

Danger is level 1 on the European five-level scale - LOW.

Main problem:

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

RISK ASSESSMENT

Avalanche danger is LOW everywhere, level 1. The snowpack is stable. On leeward aspects snow is drifted into wind slabs, on exposed aspects it is scoured to bare ground.

SNOW CONDITIONS

The snowpack is thin, 10 to about 20 cm thick, thinner in the eastern part of our mountains. Snow fell on bare ground. The snow was mostly dry, so wind transported it, most drifts are on western and south-western sides of ridges and saddles. Already yesterday warmer air began to arrive at higher elevations, so the snowpack settled quickly. In the high mountains only a larger drift might release under additional load.

FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT

Cloudy and foggy weather will prevail, with occasional sunshine only around the highest summits. Relatively weak wind mostly from south to southwest. 0 degrees at elevations between 1600 and 1800 m, today even up to about 2000 m. New precipitation expected from Saturday onwards, when the snow line will initially be between 1600 and 1900 m, but will lower at the beginning of next week.

SNOW CONDITIONS TREND

The snowpack will slowly melt and disappear at lower elevations, higher up the snow will remain mostly dry. Wind-packed snow will also settle and firm up somewhat.