Snow conditions 26.11.2018

Danger is 2nd degree on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem:

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost

RISK ASSESSMENT

Avalanche danger in the high mountains of the Julian Alps and western and central Karawanks, above about 2000 m, is MODERATE, 2nd degree, elsewhere in our mountains LOW, 1st degree. Above about 2000 m a.s.l., where more snow fell at the end of the week, the snow is less stable especially in places with wind-blown snow. Especially on steeper slopes, you can trigger a small avalanche in places with wind-blown snow. Elsewhere, the snow cover is mostly stable.

SNOW CONDITIONS

At the end of the week, it snowed in the mountains. The snow line was initially above about 1600 to 1900 m, but gradually descended to about 800 m a.s.l. In the mountains above about 1300 m, 5 to over 40 cm of snow fell. The most new snow is in the Julian Alps above about 1900 m a.s.l., elsewhere less, less snow also in the eastern part of our mountains, where there were also fewer precipitations. In the high mountains, it snowed on old base which was not consolidated. During snowfall, south winds blew and drifted snow into drifts. Today, northerlies are blowing, creating new drifts on southern sides of ridges and saddles. The snow cover is soft and loose, above about 1200 m the snow is dry. The depth of the snow cover is quite uneven, partly due to different amounts of precipitation, partly due to wind. There is quite a lot of wind-blown snow, wind-exposed locations are partly scoured to the ground.

FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT

Today cloudy and foggy. Precipitations will weaken and stop in the afternoon, latest in the northeast. In the mountains, weak to moderate north to northeast wind will blow. Freezing level around 1200 m a.s.l. Tomorrow mostly cloudy and foggy in many places, during the day clouds may break briefly somewhere. Moderate north wind blowing, strengthening a bit in the afternoon. Even colder than today, freezing level around 900 m a.s.l. On Wednesday mostly clear. Moderate to strong north to northeast wind. Even colder than Tuesday.

TENDENCY OF SNOW CONDITIONS

The snow cover will settle slowly due to gradual cooling and mostly cloudy weather, snow will remain dry, lower it will freeze. Wind will create new drifts mainly on southern and southwest sides of ridges and saddles. Avalanche danger will not change much until Wednesday. In the high mountains, especially on steep slopes and places with wind-blown snow, you can trigger a small dry, partially cohesive snow slab avalanche with greater load on the snow cover.