Snow conditions 24.1.2018

General danger level - Wednesday, 24. 1. 2018

The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: weak layers

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above about 1600 m is MODERATE, level 2, lower down LOW, level 1. Steep slopes are especially dangerous, particularly wind-loaded spots where you can trigger wind slab avalanches especially with greater snowpack loading. The danger is lower at lower elevations where there is less snow.



Snow conditions

The snowpack is mostly quite stable and hard. In places there are a few centimetres of snow on a hard surface. Especially on northern aspects the snow is still soft in places. There is much windblown snow, wind-exposed locations are heavily scoured, hard and icy.



Forecast weather development

Dry weather continues. Somewhat warmer especially this afternoon and tomorrow, when the freezing level will also be above the highest peaks, on Friday it will cool somewhat. Cloudiness will start building on Thursday on the southern and western foothills of the Julian Alps, in the afternoon gradually also in the western and central Karawanks and in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. The southwesterly wind will strengthen. On Friday mostly cloudy and foggy in places, in the eastern part of our mountains more sunshine.



Trend in snow conditions

The snowpack is slowly transforming, the warming will somewhat accelerate the transformation. Snow will become slightly wet during the day on sun-exposed hillsides in the mid-mountains and freeze at night. In the long term the snowpack will stabilise somewhat more. Extra caution advised at wind slab locations!



Next issue: Friday, 26. 1. 2018



Source: ARSO