Snow conditions 21.3.2018

General danger level - Wednesday, 21. 3. 2018

The danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.

Main problem: weak layers, wind slab

Danger pattern: Cold weather, poorly bonded fresh snow with wind



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above about 1200 m elevation is mostly CONSIDERABLE, level 3. Lower down, due to low temperatures and small amount of new snow, it is MODERATE, level 2. Especially steep slopes and areas with wind-drifted snow are dangerous. There you can trigger a snow avalanche even with minor snowpack loading. Spontaneous avalanche release is less likely.



Snow conditions

Mostly dry and cold weather continues. Snow that fell until Monday morning has mostly remained dry and light, wind has drifted it into wind slabs. Only occasionally in lower elevations on sun-exposed slopes a thin crust formed. The old snowpack remained relatively warm due to the new snow layer. Due to cold air, conditions for depth hoar development have formed. On wind-exposed sites where snow is scoured, old snow has frozen and is hard and icy.



Forecast weather development

Today moderately to mostly cloudy, more sun in the afternoon. Strong northeasterly wind will blow. Temperatures below zero. Tomorrow mostly clear and still windy and cold. Friday more cloudy, wind will weaken. Freezing level will rise slightly above 1000 m above sea level. End of week partly clear, during day relatively shallow cumulus cloudiness forming, occasionally foggy. Slightly warmer, but freezing level will likely stay below 1400 m above sea level. Weak southeasterly wind.



Trend of snow conditions

Due to low temperatures, surface snow layer will remain dry and soft, only on sun-exposed slopes it will consolidate somewhat under sun during day and refreeze at night, crust forming, but less likely in high mountains. Wind will today and tomorrow still transport snow into wind slabs. Avalanche conditions will not change much. As temperature rises very slowly day by day, snow will especially in mid-mountains from Friday on transform somewhat faster and there avalanche danger will slowly decrease, crust will strengthen. In high mountains no major changes expected for now. Due to possibility of depth hoar formation, individual slab avalanches can release from steep slopes.



Next issue: Saturday, 24. 3. 2018



Source: ARSO