Snow conditions 24.12.2023

General danger level - Sunday, 24.12.2023
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind-blown snow, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger above about 2000 m is MODERATE, level 2, lower down LOW, level 1. Steep slopes with cornices and gullies with more wind-blown snow are particularly dangerous. On southern steep slopes the snow softens during the day and may therefore be somewhat less stable. On wind-exposed locations there is a risk of wind slab.

Snow conditions
In relatively warm weather in the hills and mountains, snow on sun-exposed aspects softened during the day and froze at night in recent days, crust strengthened, settled somewhat, and melted in mid-mountains. In shade, snow remained mostly dry and soft and poorly transformed, some crust there only due to wind. Little snow in mid-mountains, thicker snow cover mostly only above about 2000 m. More snow in Julian Alps than elsewhere in our mountains.

Forecast weather development
Today, Sunday, moderately to mostly cloudy, cloud base mostly above summits. Weak to moderate westerly wind. Temperature at 1500 m around 6, at 2500 m around 2 °C. Tomorrow, Monday, gradually more low cloud in foothills of Julians and hills of Notranjska. Higher and elsewhere in our mountains moderately, occasionally mostly cloudy. Weak to moderate westerly wind. Slightly warmer than today. Tuesday and Wednesday in western and southern Julian Alps mostly cloudy and locally foggy, above about 1500 m partly clear with occasional increased cloudiness. Tuesday wind temporarily much weaker, Wednesday again weak to moderate westerly or southwesterly wind. Relatively warm, but slightly less than Monday. Thursday occasional light rain in west, dry elsewhere.

Trend in snow conditions
Snowpack will slowly settle and transform due to minor temperature fluctuations, thus also stabilizing in the long term. Still risk of wind slab in high mountains on wind-loaded aspects. Possibility of triggering avalanche on steeper slopes with wind-blown snow and in gullies, especially southern aspects with snow deposits. Especially midday and afternoon, wet snow avalanche may release on steep sun-exposed slopes.

Next issue: Thursday, 28.12.2023

Source: ARSO