Snow conditions 27.1.2021

The danger level is 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.

Main problem: wind-drifted snow, weak layers



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is above sea level around 1500 m CONSIDERABLE, 3rd level, lower down mostly MODERATE, 2nd level. Despite the cold and dry weather, conditions are particularly demanding in the high mountains. There is a lot of wind-drifted snow that can be triggered by even minor loading of the snowpack. Particularly on steeper slopes and in gullies, local spontaneous releases of dry, poorly bonded snow are expected. Due to the thick snowpack, additional cracks will appear mainly on steeper slopes, and individual gliding avalanches may also occur. Below 1500 m, the snowpack has stabilized better due to cooling; there you can mainly trigger smaller slab avalanches of new snow.



Snow conditions

In the high mountains, the snowpack is mostly soft, with a crust in places formed by wind. Lower down, there is new snow of varying depth on a firm, frozen base. Wind-exposed locations are heavily scoured, icy in places. There is a lot of wind-drifted snow; especially in the high mountains, the newer snow is poorly bonded due to the strong cooling.



Forecast weather development

Today it will initially be mostly clear, clouding over from the west during the day, but the cloud base will be above the summits. Mostly light to moderate northwesterly winds will blow. Tomorrow it will initially be partly cloudy, clouding over again during the day, and clouds will mostly be above the summits tomorrow as well. The wind will initially be northwesterly, turning westerly to southwesterly during the day and strengthening somewhat. On Friday it will be mostly cloudy and occasionally foggy. Mainly in the afternoon there will be occasional light precipitation, with the snow line gradually rising above 1100 m. A strong southwesterly wind will blow. On Saturday it will initially be partly cloudy, clouding over during the day. Snowfall is expected mainly in the evening and overnight into Sunday. Probably no more than 10 cm of snow will fall.



Trend in snow conditions

The snowpack will not change much at first. On Friday and Saturday, due to warming mainly below around 1700 m above sea level, it will become wetter, settle faster, and transform. Higher up there will be no melting, so the snow will mostly remain dry and transform slowly. The southwesterly wind will transport snow and form new deposits on the northern and eastern sides of ridges and saddles. Avalanche danger will not change significantly by Friday, and probably not even after that.



Next issue: Friday, 29.1.2021



Source: ARSO