Snow conditions 23.11.2022

General hazard level - Wednesday, 23.11.2022
Hazard is level 1 on the European five-level scale - LOW.
Main problem: wind slab
Danger pattern: Early winter, surface hoar
Danger pattern: Cold weather, poorly bonded fresh snow with wind

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is LOW everywhere, level 1. Yesterday and overnight it snowed in the mountains with strengthened wind. Slightly more dangerous are individual spots with wind-packed snow, as above the forest line you can trigger a small slab. Caution also applies to steep grassy slopes where the snow has bonded poorly. In the high mountains there are many wind-scoured and icy areas, with considerable slip risk there.

Snow conditions
Yesterday for the first time this year it snowed more abundantly in the mountains. Initially the snow line was at elevations from 700 to 1000 m, later it lowered somewhat. In total mostly 20 to almost 50 cm of more or less loose snow fell, which strong northerly wind overnight largely scoured and built snow drifts. Most snow fell in the area of central and eastern Karawanks, in part of Kamnik-Savinja Alps and on Pohorje, considerably less snow in the area of western Julian Alps, only around 10 cm. It also cooled somewhat, freezing level is currently at around 1000 m elevation.

Forecast weather development
In the next days dry and quite sunny weather will prevail in the mountains, occasionally more mid-level cloudiness on the sky. Especially in high mountains on Thursday occasionally strengthened northwesterly wind. Warmer. The 0 °C temperature line will rise to around 1800 m elevation by Friday. On Saturday it will cool somewhat again, probably also more cloudiness. Possibility for new snowfall increases somewhat only from Monday onwards.

Tendency of snow conditions
Especially in mid-mountains and lower hills snow will start transforming and also melting due to warmer weather. Overnight snow will refreeze, crust will form. In high mountains snow conditions will mostly remain unchanged. Due to wind icy spots will somewhat increase, therefore slip risk will be considerable.

Next issue: Wednesday, 30.11.2022

Source: ARSO