Snow conditions 26.4.2022

General avalanche danger level - Tuesday, 26 April 2022
The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: new snow, wet snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is above about 1800 m MODERATE, level 2, and lower down LOW, level 1. At the end of the week, especially in the high mountains of the Julian Alps, a considerable amount of snow fell, which in places did not bond well with the base. Steeper slopes and gullies on northern aspects are particularly dangerous, where the south wind drifted a lot of snow. Individual dry snow avalanches are possible. Below 2000 m, the new snow has already settled. Due to the influence of the sun and daytime warming, smaller to medium-sized wet snow avalanches will release today, and some wind slab may release as well. In the mid-mountains, there is little snow, mostly old and settled snow. The snowpack is well bonded and stable.

Snow conditions
From Friday onwards, the weather in the mountains was unstable with occasional precipitation. It snowed in the high mountains, and mostly rained lower down. In the Julian Alps area, 20 to 50 cm of more or less wet snow fell, possibly even more in the western Julian Alps. The snow was only drier during the day on Sunday. In the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, there was less precipitation, up to 20 cm of snow fell. It snowed on a softer base, but the new snow did not bond well with the base in places and needs time to stabilise. This applies especially to the western Julian Alps, where the most snow fell. Individual thunderstorms also occurred, probably graupel and soft hail fell as well. Especially on Sunday, a moderate to strong south to southwest wind blew, which formed wind slabs, cornices and slabs around ridges and summits. In the mid-mountains, the old snowpack continued to melt.

Forecast weather development
On Tuesday, it will be mostly cloudy and foggy. There will be isolated showers in the morning, and precipitation more frequent in the afternoon. The snow line will mostly be between 1600 and 1900 m above sea level. A weak southwest wind will blow. Temperature at 1500 m will be around 4, at 2500 m around -2 °C. On Wednesday night it will cool down, with precipitation continuing until morning. The snow line will drop to about 1200 m above sea level. On Wednesday morning it will clear quickly, with variable cumulus cloudiness developing during the day. Local showers, possibly thunderstorms, will form in the afternoon. The snow line will be at about 1500 m above sea level. A weak to moderate north wind will blow, stronger with showers. Temperature at 1500 m around 4, at 2500 m around -4 °C. Thursday and Friday will be partly clear, windy and quite fresh for the end of April.

Trend in snow conditions
On Tuesday and Wednesday, there will be occasional snowfall mainly in the high mountains, with a total of 10 to even 40 cm of snow possible. Due to showers, the amount of precipitation will be unevenly distributed, with more expected in the western Julian Alps. Challenging conditions will persist in the high mountains. The danger of avalanche release will remain MODERATE, level 2 above about 1800 m, and LOW, level 1 lower down. On Thursday and Friday, conditions will be spring-like again. The snowpack will settle during the day and refreeze at night. The next avalanche bulletin will be published on Friday, 29.4.2022.

Next issue: Friday, 29 April 2022

Source: ARSO