Snow conditions 26.5.2021

The danger level is 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wet snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is above sea level around 1800 m MODERATE, 2nd level, lower it is mostly LOW, 1st level. In the high mountains, the snow cover is still building up, especially above 2200 m there is quite a lot of unprocessed snow, which will become wet with daytime thaw and slide. Especially on steep slopes, individual small to medium-large wet snow avalanches will occur. Steep gullies will also be more dangerous, where there is also a larger amount of unprocessed snow due to the wind. In the mid-mountains, there is mostly old and settled snow, which is stable. Danger may be especially in areas near walls and at the outlets of longer gullies, where a snow avalanche can be triggered from higher sections. In the high mountains there are also quite a few slabs, which can be triggered by greater loading of the snow cover. Conditions are wintery.

Snow conditions
In the high mountains and also in some mid-mountains, there is a record amount of snow for the end of May. Individual snow fields still extend all the way to the heads of some alpine valleys. On Tuesday afternoon and evening, with the passage of a cold front, it snowed again, the snow line temporarily dropped to around 1100 m above sea level. In the mid-mountains, 5 to 10 cm of wet snow fell, in the high mountains mostly 10 to 25 cm. During snowfall, a moderate northerly wind blew. Overnight it cleared up, the new snow froze, only in the high mountains it is still loose. During the day, due to solar influence, daytime thaw is expected. Snow will melt quickly especially on distinctly south-facing aspects and become unstable.

Forecast weather development
Today there will initially still be some cloudiness, some peaks will be in cloud. In the morning it will clear up, mostly sunny with some shallow cumulus clouds. Mostly weak winds from south and west directions will blow, stronger only on higher peaks. Temperature at 1500 m will be around 6 during the day, at 2500 m around 0 °C. Overnight mostly clear, Thursday morning it will start clouding over. During the day variable to mostly cloudy, peaks in cloud. Around midday local precipitation will start to appear, which will intensify in the afternoon and spread to most mountain regions by evening. Individual thunderstorms will also form in between. The snow line will be around 2000 m in the afternoon and will drop slightly further in the evening with stronger precipitation. Initially weak southerly winds, in the evening a moderate northerly wind will blow. Temperature at 1500 m will be around 8 during the day, at 2500 m around 1 °C. On Friday morning and forenoon clear, afternoon variable cloudy and dry. In the morning a strengthened northerly will still blow, which will weaken and drop during the day. At 1500 m around 8 at midday, at 2500 m around 1 °C.

Trend of snow conditions
Today and also in the following days, we expect a typical spring situation. Snow will melt during the day and become more unstable, overnight it will freeze due to clear weather. On Thursday afternoon, it will snow more abundantly in the high mountains again. Presumably 20 to 30 cm of snow will fall, locally possibly more. Also due to the new snow, avalanche danger will remain MODERATE, 2nd level in the high mountains until the end of the week.

Next issue: Friday, 28. 5. 2021

Source: ARSO