Snow conditions 25.2.2019
25.02.2019
The danger level is 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind-blown snow, weak layers
Danger pattern: cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger in the mountains is mainly above sea level around 1400 m MODERATE, level 2. In the high mountains there are still wind slabs, slabs and soft slabs. Particularly dangerous are places with wind-blown snow on shady and steeper slopes above the forest line, where an avalanche can be triggered by greater loading of the snow cover. Spontaneous avalanching is not expected. Due to warming, the snowpack becomes somewhat more unstable on sun-exposed slopes from late morning to evening, when the snow softens somewhat in sunny weather, freezes at night and stabilizes.
Snow conditions
In the mid-mountains the snow is fairly well transformed, in the high mountains much worse, especially in gullies. The snowpack is mostly crusted, sometimes also hard and partially icy. Only in sheltered gullies of the high mountains is it still soft. Especially in the high mountains there are slabs and soft slabs. On wind-exposed locations the snow is heavily drifted and sometimes icy.
Forecast weather development
Today it will be moderately to mostly cloudy, summits occasionally in clouds. Weak to moderate northeast wind will blow. The freezing level will rise to sea level around 2200 m by evening. Tomorrow partly clear with occasional increased cloudiness. A little warmer. The wind will strengthen during the day. On Wednesday and Thursday mostly clear. The wind will weaken.
Trend of snow conditions
Warming will again somewhat accelerate the transformation of the snowpack, which will remain mostly dry only on the highest peaks and in gullies of the high mountains, elsewhere it will become wet during the day and freeze at night. The crust will strengthen. The wind will not create larger new wind slabs. Avalanche conditions will not change significantly until midweek.
Next issue: Wednesday, 27. 2. 2019
Source: ARSO