Snow conditions 22.1.2016
22.01.2016
RISK ASSESSMENT
Avalanche danger is moderate, level 2, in the high mountains above about 2200 m elevation, and low, level 1, lower down.
In the high mountains you can trigger an avalanche on steeper slopes and at sites with wind-drifted snow under greater load on the snowpack, but the snowpack is mostly quite stable. Spontaneous avalanches are not expected. Lower down there is a risk of slips due to the hard and partly icy surface of the old snowpack.
SNOW CONDITIONS and CURRENT SNOWPACK STATE
Cold and dry weather continues. The snowpack continues to transform, on wind-exposed terrain the wind transported snow. Due to the wind the surface crust strengthened as well.
Snowpack depth is very uneven. Most snow is in the high mountains of the Julian Alps, up to about 120 cm. Elsewhere in the high mountains snow depth is up to about 40 cm or even less. Significant snow cover reaches down to about 800 m elevation, but below about 1500 m there is very little snow. On the surface the snow is mostly covered by crust, which bears human weight in places. In gullies, especially in sheltered spots, it is still soft. There is considerable wind-drifted snow, on wind-exposed terrain the snow is quite scoured, in places down to bare or old, partly icy ground.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Dry weather will continue. Today mostly clear in the high mountains, clearing up in the mid-mountains during the day. A relatively light wind will blow, mostly northwesterly to westerly.
Tomorrow morning cloudy, warmer air arriving. Afternoon clearing from the west. Freezing level rising to about 1600 m elevation. In the afternoon the northwesterly will strengthen.
Sunday sunny, a bit more cloudiness towards evening and during the night to Monday. Gradually warmer, by evening freezing level up to about 2000 m elevation.
SNOW CONDITION TREND
The snowpack will continue to transform, surface crust will strengthen, partly due to wind, partly due to thaw especially on sun-exposed slopes. Avalanche conditions will not change much by Monday.
Next report issued Monday, 25.1.2016 morning.
Source: ARSO