Snow conditions 26.3.2015
26.03.2015
The avalanche danger is currently mostly level 3.
The snowpack has become unstable due to new snow and, lower down, due to rain. There is an unstable layer of new snow on the old, crusty base, and lower down the rain has soaked the old snow.
The risk has increased. Spontaneous release of numerous small and individual medium-sized, possibly also individual large new-snow avalanches is expected, especially on steeper slopes. Avalanches can be easily triggered by minor additional loading of the snowpack on steeper slopes and in areas with wind-deposited snow. Below around 1500 m, due to rain, the snow is soaked and full-depth avalanches of wet old snow can release from steep slopes, especially grassy or leaf-covered ones.
SNOW CONDITIONS
Yesterday in the mountains it was cloudy, with precipitation gradually starting to appear. The snow line fluctuated between around 1400 and 1800 m. Up to this morning, 10 to more than 50 cm of snow fell, depending on elevation. More precipitation occurred in the Julian Alps and the western Karawanks. It snowed onto a crusty base, so the new snow did not bond well to the base. Lower down, rain soaked the snowpack.
Snowpack depth is quite uneven. In the Julian Alps, at 2500 m elevation there is around 230 cm of snow, at 1500 m around 100 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is less snow, at 1500 m around 40 cm.
Significant snow cover extends mostly to around 1100 m elevation, higher on sun-facing slopes.
CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK
The snowpack is currently soft and loose, with less new snow in the eastern Karawanks. Below around 1500 m the snow is soaked. There are many drifts and slabs.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today it will be cloudy. Precipitation will weaken and cease in many places. Occasionally until tomorrow morning, small amounts of precipitation may fall somewhere, but tomorrow morning precipitation will strengthen somewhat from the north again and affect most of Slovenia tomorrow. They will presumably not be as heavy as until today, only on the east slightly more than so far.
TRENDS IN SNOW CONDITIONS
Avalanche danger will remain at level 3 until tomorrow.
Until tomorrow, spontaneous release of numerous small and individual medium-sized, possibly also individual large new-snow avalanches is still expected, especially on steeper slopes. Avalanches can be easily triggered by minor additional loading of the snowpack on steeper slopes and in areas with wind-deposited snow. Below around 1500 m, full-depth avalanches of soaked old snow can release from steep slopes, especially grassy or leaf-covered ones.
The next report will be published on Friday, 27.3.2015 in the afternoon.
Source: ARSO