Snow conditions 23.11.2017

General danger level - Thursday, 23.11.2017

Danger is level 1 on the European 5-level scale - LOW.

Main problem: favorable conditions, new snow



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is LOW, level 1. The snowpack is mostly stable. Only locally on steep slopes with high additional load on the snowpack you can trigger a loose snow slab avalanche. Spontaneous avalanches are not expected.



Snow conditions

With the thaw, as the freezing level rose above the highest summits, the snowpack first became somewhat labile, but at the same time began to settle and transform faster. Now it has already stabilized even in the high mountains. Snow is mostly crusty, the crust does not support human weight. Especially on the southern and western sides of ridges and saddles there is considerable drifted snow, wind-exposed locations are scoured, locally to the ground.



Forecast weather development

Today partly clear in the eastern Karawanks, on Pohorje and in the eastern part of Kamnik-Savinja Alps, elsewhere mostly cloudy and locally foggy. Occasional light rain especially between upper Posočje and Snežnik. West to southwest wind blowing, in the evening temporarily turning northerly. Friday similar weather, only light rain in the west less likely. Southwest wind again. On Saturday precipitation will strengthen in the west and slowly spread to central areas, in the night to Sunday also to eastern Slovenia. Snowfall limit initially at sea level between 1300 and around 1800 m and will descend in the night to Sunday. Sunday morning around 600 m above sea level. Precipitation will quickly cease in the forenoon and clear in the afternoon. Strong northerly wind will start blowing.



Trend in snow conditions

Snow has crusted everywhere. Until Saturday it will settle a bit more, in lower elevations it will also melt, especially with Saturday rain. Until Sunday morning 10 to around 40 cm snow will fall in the west, depending on elevation, less elsewhere. Above the snowfall limit southwest wind will already create drifts, then also northerly wind. Since in high mountains it will snow onto crusty base, a weak layer will remain in the snowpack along which new snow can slide. Lower, where it will rain first, the bond between old and new snow will be relatively good. Especially above around 1600 m avalanche danger will increase by Sunday morning.



Next issue: Monday, 27.11.2017



Source: ARSO