Snow conditions 25.1.2019
25.01.2019
Danger level is 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind slab, new snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is MODERATE above sea level around 1500 m, level 2, and LOW below, level 1. Especially in places with wind slab, on sufficiently steep slopes with greater snowpack loading, you can trigger an avalanche. On scoured ridges there is locally a risk of gliding.
Snow conditions
The snowpack is soft and loose, in drifts somewhat denser locally. Wind-exposed sites are quite scoured, in sheltered locations there are crusts locally. Due to low temperatures, the surface snow layer transforms very slowly. In the snowpack there is a weak layer along which, with greater loading, a slab of cohesive dry snow can release.
Forecast weather development
Today mostly clear, occasionally more cloudy in mid-mountains and possibly foggy locally. Weak to moderate northeasterly wind. Tomorrow partly clear with occasional moderate cloudiness. Cloud base high above summits. In high mountains moderate to strong northerly wind, weaker lower down. Warming, in the afternoon freezing level rising to around 1700 m. On Sunday gradually clouding over during the day, especially foggy in hills of Notranjska and northern Primorska and in western and southern Julian Alps. In the afternoon summits elsewhere may be in clouds. Towards evening precipitation starting in western hills, spreading east overnight to Monday. Snowfall line expected between 700 and 1000 m, on Monday slightly lower. Moderate to strong southwesterly wind.
Trend in snow conditions
Snow will remain soft today and tomorrow, wind creating new drifts. Tomorrow, Saturday, due to warming in mid-mountains snow will settle somewhat and transformation will accelerate. With precipitation overnight to Monday, avalanche danger will particularly in Julian Alps and western and central Karawanks again INCREASE mainly above sea level around 1500 m, where snow will be drier. Southwesterly wind will drift new snow into drifts.
Next issue: Monday, 28.1.2019
Source: ARSO