Snow Conditions 26.1.2022

General avalanche danger level - Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Danger is level 1 on the European 5-level scale - LOW.
Main problem: wind slab
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is mostly LOW. Particularly on wind-scoured and therefore icy spots, there is a high GLIDE RISK. The snowpack is mostly stable. Only on steep, shady high-mountain slopes are there rare spots with individual untransformed or poorly transformed slabs that can release under heavy load.

Snow conditions
The period of dry and sunny weather continues. Yesterday daytime it warmed up, the zero isotherm rose to an altitude of around 1800 m. On sun-exposed slopes the snowpack moistened during the day and froze at night. In the high mountains a moderate northerly wind continued to blow, but it mostly did not transport old snow. In the shade the snow is hard or dry, with some powder in places. Wind-exposed slopes are heavily scoured, even to bare ground. More pronounced slabs are mainly in shady locations, on southern slopes the snow is already more bonded to the base. Especially in the mid-mountains there are many bare spots on sun-exposed slopes.

Forecast weather development
Today it will be clear in the high and mid-mountains. Lower down, low cloud will persist up to an altitude of around 1200 m. A light to moderate north-westerly wind will blow. The coldest will be around -5 °C at an altitude of around 1100 m. Higher up there will be a temperature inversion. At 1500 m it will be -1 to 3, at 2500 m around -4 °C, colder in the eastern ranges. On Thursday it will be moderately to mostly cloudy, mostly with mid- and high-level cloud over the highest peaks. In the mid-mountains a light to moderate westerly wind, in the high mountains a moderate, occasionally strong north-westerly wind. Warmer, at 1500 m around 4, at 2500 m around -2 °C. On Friday a more or less dry cold front will pass. Partly clearing, with variable lumpy cloud and minor snow showers forming. A moderate to strong northerly wind will blow, strengthening towards evening. Colder, at 1500 m around -3 midday, at 2500 m around -11 °C. Cloud cover will also change at the weekend. On Sunday a weakened weather disturbance will pass, with possible snow showers. It will clear during the day. Both days will be very windy, especially on Sunday with a pronounced northerly foehn. Temporary warming again

Trend of snow conditions
Snow conditions will not change significantly in the coming days either. Due to the warming and sunshine, the snowpack on sun-exposed slopes will moisten during the day today and tomorrow and freeze at night. In shady locations the snow will remain mostly hard and frozen. The high glide risk will persist. In the second half of the week, icy surfaces will increase further due to temperature changes. The snowpack will be mostly stable, with only individual potentially less stable slabs remaining in shady high-mountain locations. The next avalanche bulletin will be published on Friday, 28 January 2022.

Next issue: Friday, 28 January 2022

Source: ARSO