Snow conditions 21.2.2022

General avalanche danger level - Monday, 21. 2. 2022
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: weak layers, wind-blown snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is mostly MODERATE, level 2. Dangerous are places with wind-blown snow and steep slopes, where due to a weak layer under newer snow, a slab avalanche can be triggered upon greater snow cover load. Wind-exposed locations are heavily wind-packed, there is a risk of slipping. Lower down, in the mid-mountains where there is still newer snow, individual ground avalanches are possible on steep grassy slopes.

Snow conditions
There was little precipitation on Saturday, only a few centimetres of snow fell. The snow cover in the mid-mountains is wet and soft, somewhat higher up partly covered with a thin crust. In the high mountains, snow is still soft in shady locations, elsewhere covered with a thin crust. There is a weak layer in the snowpack along which the snow can still slide. There is quite a lot of slab, wind-exposed locations are wind-packed and icy.

Forecast weather development
Today it will be cloudy and foggy. In the forenoon there will be occasional light precipitation in the hills of Notranjska and northern Primorska, in the afternoon also elsewhere. In the area of our mountains above around 1200 m, 5 to maximum 10 cm of snow will fall. A strong southwesterly wind will blow, turning north in the afternoon. It will cool down, the zero isotherm, currently at around 1600 m above sea level, will drop to around 1000 m above sea level by evening. Tomorrow and Wednesday will be mostly clear, with occasional layered clouds possible. A moderate to strong northerly wind will blow. The zero isotherm will fluctuate between 1000 and 1600 m above sea level. Thursday will also be mostly clear, with a southwesterly wind blowing. In the evening, clouds will start to gather over the hills of northern Primorska and Notranjska.

Tendency of snow conditions
Snow and avalanche conditions will not change much. In the mid-mountains, snow will melt during the day, lower down it will even become bare, and freeze at night. In the high mountains, it will melt mainly on sun-exposed slopes during the day, freeze at night, and the crust will strengthen. This process will be less pronounced and slower in shady locations. Avalanche danger will remain MODERATE, level 2. Dangerous will be mainly places with wind-blown snow on steeper slopes, where you can trigger a slab avalanche upon greater load. Special caution is needed especially in such places. The risk of slipping remains especially on wind-packed locations. The next avalanche bulletin will be published on Wednesday, 23.2.2022.

Next issue: Wednesday, 23. 2. 2022

Source: ARSO