Snow conditions 22.2.2019
22.02.2019
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind-blown snow, weak layers
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is mainly above about 1500 m altitude in the mountains MODERATE, level 2. In the high mountains, there are still wind slabs, slabs and soft slabs. Particularly dangerous are areas with wind-blown snow on shady and steeper slopes above the treeline, where an avalanche can be triggered with significant additional load on the snowpack. Lower down, due to warm air, wet snow avalanches are still possible today on steep, grassy slopes.
Snow conditions
In warm and sunny weather, the snowpack has settled and transformed rapidly, frozen at night, and softened and wet especially on sun-exposed aspects during the day. In shady areas of the high mountains, the snow is still mostly soft, but crusty in places. On exposed aspects, it is wind-packed down to a hard, even icy base. Particularly in the mid-mountains and lower areas, the settling process has accelerated. However, with today's cooling and cloudy weather, the snowpack conditions will change during the day.
Forecast weather development
Today, Friday, it will be mostly cloudy and mostly dry. The northerly wind will strengthen. In the evening and overnight into Saturday, it will cool significantly, with air mass temperatures about 15 degrees lower tomorrow than today. Tomorrow it will already be quite clear and windy, with strong northerly winds that will be dangerous on exposed aspects. It will be cold. Sunday will also be quite clear, but gradually a bit warmer. Northerly winds will continue but weaken. On Monday, dry weather will persist, with a temperature reversal.
Trend in snow conditions
With cooling, the snow will freeze and become icy and hard in places. The snowpack will remain conditionally unstable mainly in shady high mountain areas with wind-blown snow, but will stabilize well elsewhere. With renewed warming at the start of the week, conditions will become similar to those this week.
Next issue: Monday, 25.2.2019
Source: ARSO