Snow conditions 25.3.2016

RISK ASSESSMENT



Avalanche danger is currently at level 1.



The snowpack is mostly stable. In sunny weather, snow on sun-exposed slopes softens and becomes wet during the day, so base avalanches are possible in the afternoon on steep, grassy slopes. On northern slopes in the high mountains, the snow is still poorly transformed, so the upper layers are somewhat poorly bonded to the lower ones. There is a lot of surface hoar. You can trigger an avalanche with significant additional load on the snowpack only locally on steep slopes and in areas with wind slab, with a higher chance also on sun-exposed slopes at midday and in the afternoon. In the morning hours, there is a risk of slipping in places due to the hard, partially icy surface.





SNOW CONDITIONS and CURRENT SNOWPACK STATE



In the last few days, there has been less sun than at the beginning of the week. The air mass was relatively cold, so the sun had little effect on the snowpack. The freezing level was mostly below 1200 m above sea level. The snowpack has settled slightly only in the mid-mountains, higher up it remained frozen and dry, and at night the snow froze lower down as well.



In the Julian Alps, at 2500 m there is 320 to about 410 cm of snow, at 1500 m from 160 to about 290 cm, at 1000 m up to about 30 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, at 1500 m there is 60 to about 100 cm of snow, less towards the east. Significant snow cover starts at around 900 m above sea level, higher on sun-exposed aspects.



The snowpack is mostly covered with crust, in places the snow is also hard. During the day, in sunny weather on sunlit spots it softens, but in shaded north-facing spots in the high mountains the snow is still mostly dry. There are many wind slabs and slabs. On wind-exposed spots, the snow is quite scoured. In the morning, the surface is hard and icy in places.





FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Today it will be mostly cloudy, foggy in places. Mostly light westerly to northwesterly wind will blow.



Tomorrow will also be predominantly cloudy, but in the afternoon the cloudiness will be more variable with isolated snow showers developing. Light to moderate northerly winds will blow. The freezing level will rise to around 1400 m.



It will be even warmer on Sunday, when the zero isotherm will rise to around 2400 m. Sunny weather will prevail. Relatively light westerly to northwesterly winds will blow.



On Monday it will be cloudy and foggy. There will be occasional light precipitation. The snow line will be between 900 and 1200 m above sea level. It will be slightly cooler again.





SNOW CONDITIONS TREND



The snowpack will slowly settle and transform. Today and tomorrow the sun will not affect the snowpack, the snow will remain mostly frozen, except in lower mid-mountain areas. On Sunday, with higher temperatures and sunnier weather, the snow will wet again during the day even higher up to around 2500 m, but in north-facing high mountain areas it will remain mostly frozen or dry.



No spontaneous avalanching today and tomorrow. You can trigger an avalanche only with heavy additional load on the snowpack on some steep slopes, especially in areas with wind slab. The snow will be mostly hard and crusted, so there is a risk of slipping in places. On Sunday, due to solar influence, there will be a higher chance of an avalanche midday and afternoon on steep southern slopes, and it will also be more likely that you can trigger it yourself.





The next report will be issued on TUESDAY, 29.3.2016 in the morning.



Source: ARSO