Snow conditions 22. 02. 2024

General danger level - Thursday, 22. 2. 2024
The danger is level 2 on the European five-point scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind slab, new snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is MODERATE, level 2, in most of our mountains above about 1800 m altitude, and LOW, level 1, lower down. Areas with wind slab are also more dangerous. On steeper slopes in the high mountains, individual wet snow avalanches can still release spontaneously, but mostly they can be triggered by a person on foot or touring skier. During the day today, it will snow in the mountains, the snow line will be at altitudes between 1400 and 1700 m. Snowfall will be more pronounced in the afternoon and in the western part of the Julian Alps.

Snow conditions
Due to relatively warm weather in the previous days, the snow has reformed considerably especially on sun-exposed sides up to about 2000 m, and the snowpack has stabilized to a large extent. In the high mountains and on shade-exposed sides, the snowpack is refrozen. Today new snow will fall, up to 30 cm of new snow possible in the western part of the Julian Alps.

Forecast weather development
Today, Thursday, cloudy and foggy, in the Julian Alps and their foothills precipitation, which will cover all mountain regions in the afternoon. Snow line at altitudes between 1400 and 1700 m. Strong southwesterly wind blowing, which will strengthen further in the afternoon. Temperature at 1500 m around 1 °C, at 2500 m around -4 °C. Friday cloudy and foggy with abundant precipitation. Snow line around 1500 m altitude, during heavier precipitation especially in the area of eastern Julian Alps and western Karawanks it may snow lower. Moderate to strong winds from southerly directions. Temperature at 1500 m around 1, at 2500 m around -4 °C. Saturday morning precipitation will mostly subside and cease. Saturday and Sunday partly clear, mainly in the west still possible snow showers. Moderate southwesterly winds.

Trend in snow conditions
Today and Friday the danger will gradually increase due to new snow, first in the western part of our mountains, then further east. Although it will snow lower than in previous episodes, slopes below 1900 m are quite bare, so new snow will not pose the same danger as in the high mountains. Southwesterly wind will transport snow and new slabs and cornices will form. In total, up to Saturday morning more than a meter of new snow may fall in the western part of the Julian Alps, elsewhere smaller amounts of new snow, up to 80 cm.

Next bulletin: Sunday, 25. 2. 2024

Source: ARSO