Snow conditions 23.3.2015

The avalanche danger is mostly level 1.



The snowpack is mostly stable. An avalanche can only be triggered by a large load on the snowpack, especially on steep shady slopes, while sunny slopes become somewhat more unstable in the middle of the day and early afternoon in sunny weather.



The risk is relatively low. Only exceptionally, under snowpack loading, wind slabs may release, especially on shady slopes due to poor bonding between the old, crusted and partially icy base and the upper snow layer; on sunny slopes, the snowpack becomes somewhat unstable during the day due to the influence of the sun or daytime heating.



SNOW CONDITIONS



On Saturday, the mountains had sunny weather at first, but cloud cover increased in most of our mountains during the day. The snow line was at about 1500 m above sea level. A moderate southwesterly wind was blowing. The snowpack softened on sunny slopes during the day, but remained frozen and dry in shady areas and places with cloud cover. On Sunday, it was mostly cloudy, with a few centimeters of snow falling especially in the western part of our mountains. It cooled slightly, with the zero isotherm at around 1300 m above sea level.



The snowpack depth is quite uneven. In the Julian Alps, there is up to 190 cm of snow at 2500 m above sea level, and up to 100 cm at 1500 m. Elsewhere in our mountains, there is less snow, around 50 cm at 1500 m.

Significant snow cover mostly extends to about 1000 m above sea level, higher on sunny slopes.



CURRENT SNOWPACK STATUS



The snowpack is mostly covered with a crust that partially supports human weight. During the day, snow softens on sunny slopes. There are many wind drifts and slabs. Ridges and wind-exposed areas are quite wind-packed, hence mostly hard and icy, even bare.



FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Today it will be partly clear with moderate cloud cover, especially in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps area and central Karawanks it will be mostly cloudy and foggy in places. The highest peaks will be above the clouds. In the afternoon, clouds will decrease. A light easterly wind will blow. Tomorrow, the southwesterly will strengthen, and cloud cover will gradually increase from the west. A drop or snowflake may occur in the western Julians and hills of northern Primorska and Notranjska. On Wednesday, it will be cloudy and foggy. Precipitation will gradually cover all of Slovenia from the west in the morning. The snow line will be between 1100 and 1500 m above sea level. An estimated 10 to about 30 cm of snow will fall, more in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks. During snowfall, a moderate wind from the east to south will blow, creating drifts again. The new snow will bond poorly to the crusted base.



SNOW CONDITION TRENDS



Avalanche danger will not change today and tomorrow. In areas with sunny weather, snow on sunny slopes will soften during the day and freeze at night. On Wednesday, the risk of avalanches will increase; lower down where it rains, the snowpack will become wet, and higher up, the new snow will increase the risk.



No spontaneous avalanching today and tomorrow. On Wednesday, new snow may slide from steep slopes, and lower where it rains, the snowpack will become wet, and slab avalanches of old wet snow may occur on steep slopes.



The next report will be published on Wednesday, 25.3.2015.



Source: ARSO