Snow conditions 25. 1. 2024

General avalanche danger level - Thursday, 25. 1. 2024
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: drifted snow, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / thaw after frost

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger above about 1800 m elevation is MODERATE, level 2, lower down LOW, level 1. Steeper slopes with drifted snow are particularly dangerous, where under greater load you can trigger a dry slab avalanche. Especially on steep grassy southern-facing slopes in the mid-mountains, individual wet snow avalanches can be triggered.

Snow conditions
The snowpack in the mid-mountains is softened, wet, there is little snow, especially south-facing slopes are bare up to elevation around 1900 m. In shaded spots there may be surface hoar that does not support human weight. In the high mountains, above around 2000 m, snow is dry, only on steeper southern slopes on clear days it can get crusty during the day. In places it is compacted by wind. Wind-exposed locations are quite scoured, possibly to the ground or to the old, hard base.

Forecast weather development
A longer period of dry weather awaits. Today, Thursday, mostly clear and warm, zero isotherm at around 2000 m elevation. Strong northwest wind will blow, slowly weakening towards evening. Friday partly clear, more clouds on Pohorje and in eastern Karawanks. Weak to moderate northwest wind, afternoon west wind. Zero isotherm will rise to around 2400 m elevation. Saturday clear and somewhat cooler, zero at around 1600 m above sea level. Weak to moderate, in high mountains possibly strong northwest wind. Sunday also mostly clear with somewhat weaker wind. Freezing level will rise in the afternoon again to around 2000 m elevation. Monday even warmer, some cirrus clouds in the sky.

Trend in snow conditions
The snowpack will continue to stabilise, get crusty during the day, freeze at night especially Saturday and Sunday morning, above around 2100 m also Friday and Monday. On southern aspects, especially on steep grassy slopes, some wet snow avalanche can still be triggered, but gradually less. In high mountains, main danger areas with drifted snow especially near ridges and in gullies where wind has deposited snow. Under greater load, a slab avalanche can be triggered there.

Next issue: Friday, 26. 1. 2024

Source: ARSO