Snow conditions 23.3.2022

General danger level - Wednesday, 23.3.2022
Danger is 2nd level on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind slab, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
Due to overnight cooling, the snowpack is currently mostly well bonded. Avalanche danger is LOW, 1st level, but during the day it will increase due to the influence of sun and warm weather and will be particularly on sun-exposed slopes MODERATE, 2nd level. During the day, small to medium-sized wet snow avalanches may release on sufficiently steep sun-exposed slopes, or you may trigger them with greater load mainly from late morning to late afternoon. In the morning and forenoon, slipping is still quite dangerous.

Snow conditions
With increasingly warm weather, the situation is completely spring-like. Snow freezes at night due to clear weather, but during the day it crusts and softens significantly, especially on sun-exposed slopes due to the sun's influence. With warming, the snowpack is also melting. In more shaded areas, this process is currently still slowed down. Snow on sun-exposed slopes is mostly well crusted, in some shaded gullies there may still be some soft wind slab, crust is also present. Wind-exposed areas are scoured, even to bare ground. On sun-exposed slopes in mid-mountain areas, it is often bare or there is little snow.

Forecast weather development
Today and tomorrow clear and dry conditions. Today weak east to southeast wind. At midday temperature around 6°C at 1500 m, around 1°C at 2500 m. On Thursday calm or weak wind mostly from northern directions. Even warmer. At midday temperature around 8°C at 1500 m, around 1°C at 2500 m. On Friday initially clear, midday and afternoon some variable cumulus clouds above summits. Weak and variable wind. A degree cooler.

Trend in snow conditions
Ahead is a period of typical spring situation, when the crusting process of the snowpack will prevail. The snowpack will freeze at night, but during the day it will crust and soften considerably, due to warming a bit more each day. Snow will start melting faster on sun-exposed slopes. Since the air will be relatively dry, there will be considerable differences in hardness between sun-exposed and shaded slopes. The snowpack will be mostly stable in the morning and initially forenoon, but during the day, especially on sun-exposed slopes, the danger of wet snow avalanches will increase slightly. Slipping danger will decrease slightly due to warmer weather, greater caution needed mainly in the morning. Next avalanche bulletin on Friday, 25.3.2022.

Next issue: Saturday, 26.3.2022

Source: ARSO