Snow conditions 22.4.2015

AVALANCHE RISK ASSESSMENT



Avalanche danger is mostly level 2 above about 2000 m, lower down level 1.



The snowpack is generally stable, avalanches can mainly involve new snow on the old, hard and partly crusted base. Risk is greater midday and in the afternoon as well as in the high mountains, lower down there is too little snow.



Risk is relatively low. From steep, sun-exposed slopes only small avalanches or sloughs of new snow can release spontaneously.

You can trigger an avalanche on very rare steep slopes in the high mountains and especially with greater additional loading.



SNOW CONDITIONS



In the previous days, snow melted in the sun, in high areas it got wet and froze at night. The snowline rose during the day already above about 2600 m elevation.



In the Julian Alps at 2500 m elevation there is up to about 170 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 20 cm.

Elsewhere in our mountains there is less snow. Significant snow cover mostly reaches to about 1600 m elevation.



CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK



The old snowpack is well transformed, the 5 to about 15 cm of new snow that fell last weekend has already settled and mostly transformed, especially on sun-exposed aspects.



FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Initially it will still be mostly clear, but on Thursday a period of unsettled and more frequently cloudy weather will gradually begin.

On Thursday in the Julian Alps and the western Karawanks it will gradually become cloudier during the day, with occasional local precipitation already possible.

The snow line will be at about 2000 m elevation. Weak to moderate southwest wind will blow. Temperature at 1500 m will be around 6°C, at 2500 m around -1°C. Also on Friday in the mountains it still looks like cloudier weather with occasional precipitation.

Until the end of the week the snowline will remain relatively high, above about 2200 m. Moderate wind will blow mainly from western and southern directions.



TENDENCY OF SNOW CONDITIONS



With cloudy nights and possible rain, the snowpack will remain wet high up even at night, snow will transform more slowly only higher up in the mountains where it will occasionally snow or be below the snowline.



Avalanche risk will temporarily increase from partly sunny weather during the day in the high mountains,

during cloudy periods due to wetness and possible increased moistening from rain also lower down, below the snow line.







Next report will be published on Friday, 24.4.2015.



Source: ARSO