2.03.2022
General avalanche danger level - Wednesday, 2. 3. 2022
Danger is 2nd degree on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: weak layers, wind slab
Danger pattern: cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is above about 1700 m elevation MODERATE, 2nd degree, lower down LOW, 1st degree. Dangerous areas with wind slab are mainly on south and west aspects. Caution especially in gullies where there can be larger amounts of wind slab and at transitions from thicker to thinner snow cover. Small to medium-sized avalanches can be triggered at rare spots with minor load, but mostly require a large load. In shady high mountain locations, conditions for deep persistent slab formation have occurred in recent days, so the snowpack there may be locally less stable. Wind-exposed slopes are heavily scoured, with risk of gliding there.
Snow conditions
In cold and initially windy weather, some drifting occurred, and in shady high mountain locations conditions for deep persistent slab existed. Temperatures were below zero, so snow hardly transformed, except in sheltered and sunny mid-mountain locations where it slightly crusted on the surface during the day. The snowpack is heavily wind-affected, with wind effects increasing with elevation. Very wind-exposed slopes are scoured almost to the ground and icy. In sheltered spots, there is still up to 20 cm of dry snow on a hard base.
Forecast weather development
Today it will be clear at first, but clouds will develop from the west during the day. Mostly light winds from northern directions. Warmer air will flow in during the day, and the zero isotherm will be between 1200 and 1400 m elevation in the afternoon. Tomorrow mostly clear, clouding over from the north in the evening. Light north to northwesterly winds. Freezing level will rise to around 1500 or 1600 m. On Friday mostly clear at first, partly cloudy during the day, some summits may be in clouds occasionally. Winds will pick up slightly, light to moderate northerly or northeasterly. Cooler, zero isotherm below 1000 m elevation again.
Tendency of snow conditions
With warming, sun will affect snowpack transformation today and tomorrow mainly on sun-exposed aspects up to about 1500 m elevation, tomorrow a bit higher. Crust will strengthen. No significant change in shady aspects. Avalanche danger will remain MODERATE, 2nd degree above about 1700 m on Wednesday and Thursday, LOW, 1st degree lower down. Extra caution needed especially in areas with wind slab. Risk of gliding remains significant. From Friday onward, with cooling, snowpack will be stable everywhere, avalanche danger mostly LOW. Some caution still needed in cold spots or shady high mountain locations due to possible deep persistent slab. Next avalanche bulletin on Friday, 4.3.2022.
Next issue: Friday, 4. 3. 2022
Source: ARSO