Snow conditions 22.4.2022

General danger level - Friday, 22. 4. 2022
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: new snow, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is currently LOW, level 1, but it will increase during the day due to new snow in the high mountains and be MODERATE, level 2. Steeper slopes above sea level around 1900 m will be more dangerous, where it will snow on a hard base. Individual dry snow avalanches possible, wind slabs may also release. During the day the new snow will refreeze in places, so smaller to medium-sized spontaneous wet snow avalanches possible. Lower down the snowpack will remain well bonded and stable.

Snow conditions
In the mountains it has been relatively cold weather in recent days. Yesterday it warmed up somewhat, the zero isotherm rose during the day to sea level around 2000 m. Conditions were typically spring-like. New snow that fell on Tuesday night has mostly melted or transformed. Today there are again precipitations in the mountains, snow line currently at sea level around 1800 m, occasionally dropping a few 100 m lower. Up to now up to 10 cm of more or less dry snow has fallen. At the same time a moderate southeast wind is blowing, creating small wind slabs around ridges and saddles. Lower down due to thawing with rain the old snowpack is still melting.

Forecast weather development
Today cloudy with precipitations, snowing in high mountains, mostly raining in mid-mountains. Most summits in clouds. In the afternoon precipitations will weaken and towards evening mostly cease. Mostly east to southeast wind blowing, which will turn south to southwest in the afternoon. Temperature at 1500 m around 2, at 2500 m around -2°C. On Saturday variable to mostly cloudy, summits occasionally in clouds, some chance for sun mainly in the east in the afternoon. More cloudy in western and southern Julian Alps. Especially in Julian Alps and western and central Karawanks occasional small local precipitations, snow line at sea level between 1600 and 1900 m. Initially weak southwest wind, which will strengthen during the day. Temperature at 1500 m around 5, at 2500 m around 0°C. On Sunday night and Sunday morning especially in the area of Julian Alps and western Karawanks more abundant precipitations, thunderstorms possible. Snow line at sea level around 1900 m. Moderate to strong south to southwest wind blowing. Also on Sunday during the day remaining variable, summits often in clouds. Occasional showers, in the afternoon thunderstorms possible. Strengthened southwest wind will still blow, weakening only slightly. Temperature at 1500 m around 4, at 2500 m around -3 °C. Weather will not fully settle on Monday either, but precipitations relatively few. Occasional still local showers. But quite variable patchy cloudiness. Weak to moderate southwest wind still blowing.

Trend in snow conditions
Especially in high mountains in the coming days due to frequent snowfall demanding conditions. Today during the day expected 10 to 20 cm snow, which will already in the afternoon refreeze in places. Wet snow avalanches possible. More abundant snowfall with wind expected on Sunday night and Sunday morning, when in the area of Julian Alps 30 and even more than 50 cm moist snow will fall, in the area of high terrain of Kamnik-Savinja Alps 10 to 30 cm. During the day another 10 to 20 cm snow, which will be slightly drier. Also loose wet snow and graupel possible! Avalanche release danger will increase especially in high terrain of Julian Alps and be MODERATE, level 3. Dry as well as wet snow avalanches will release. On northern aspects wind slabs will form on a larger scale. In mid-mountains mostly rain, so there LOW danger, level 1. Also at the beginning of the week release danger due to occasional clearings and daytime thaws will not yet decrease. Next avalanche bulletin we will publish on Monday, 25.4.2022.

Next publication: Monday, 25. 4. 2022

Source: ARSO