Snow conditions 22.2.2021

Danger is level 4 on the European five-level scale - HIGH.

Main problem: wet snow, gliding snow

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above about 1400 m altitude is CONSIDERABLE, level 3, midday and in the afternoon it will INCREASE especially on sun-exposed slopes to HIGH, level 4. On steeper sun-exposed slopes and especially in gullies and couloirs, due to warming we expect large spontaneous wet snow avalanches. Especially on grassy slopes, ground avalanches will release, cornice failures may also occur. In some shady locations and ridges there are icy surfaces, so slipping is also dangerous.



Snow conditions

Due to warming, the snowpack has begun to settle and metamorphose faster, especially on sun-exposed aspects in mid-mountains and lower it is also melting faster. The snowpack is mostly crusted and icy. Crust formed due to wind and daily melting and nighttime freezing. Only occasionally in high mountain shady aspects is the snow still powdery and soft. There are many wind slabs and cornices. Ridges are heavily wind-scoured and icy, sometimes the snow surface is hard. During the day in sunny weather on sun-exposed aspects snow softens greatly and drips, at night it refreezes. Large differences in snowpack conditions occur between sun-exposed and shady aspects.



Forecast weather development

Today mostly clear, on slopes south of Bohinjski greben to Snežnik cloudy or foggy, clouds breaking in the afternoon. Moderate to strong westerly winds blowing, weakening during the day. Very warm, temperature at 1500 m from 6 to 10, at 2500 m around 4 °C. Tuesday mostly clear, some low cloud only in the hilly terrain of western Slovenia. Light winds of variable direction. Very warm, temperature at 1500 m around 9, at 2500 m around 4 °C. Wednesday and Thursday mostly clear, light winds of variable direction. Very warm and dry weather continues. Zero isotherm at about 3300 m.



Trend in snow conditions

In coming days snowpack will settle, metamorphose and melt faster especially on sun-exposed slopes. In shady aspects the process will be much slower. During the day on sun-exposed aspects it will soften greatly and drip, at night refreeze. Also Tuesday midday and afternoon HIGH danger of wet snow avalanches and gliding avalanches especially on sun-exposed slopes. Large snow avalanches expected. Snowpack on sun-exposed slopes most stable early morning and partly forenoon. Due to nighttime freezing of snowpack high slipping danger. Also into the week daily cycle of snowpack instability persists, but avalanche release danger will slowly decrease.



Next bulletin: Wednesday, 24.2.2021



Source: ARSO