Snow conditions 27.2.2019

Danger is at level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: wind slab, weak layers

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Danger assessment

The avalanche danger in the mountains is mainly above about 1400 m MODERATE, level 2. In the high mountains, there are still wind slabs, slabs and crusts. Particularly dangerous are areas with wind-blown snow on shady and steeper slopes above the treeline, where an avalanche can be triggered with significant additional load on the snowpack. No spontaneous avalanching is expected. Due to the warming, the snowpack becomes somewhat more unstable on sun-exposed slopes from late morning to evening, when the snow softens somewhat in sunny weather, and freezes and stabilises at night.



Snow conditions

In the mid-mountains, the snow is fairly well transformed, in the high mountains much less so, especially in the gullies. The snowpack is mostly crusty, sometimes hard and partially icy. Only in sheltered gullies in the high mountains is it still soft. Especially in the high mountains there are slabs and crusts. On wind-exposed locations, the snow is heavily wind-packed and sometimes icy.



Forecast weather development

Today and tomorrow it will be mostly clear and quite warm. Today zero is at about 2300 m above sea level, tomorrow above our highest peaks. On Friday it will become cloudy, with occasional minor local precipitation. On Saturday it will be moderately to mostly cloudy and cooler. Less cloudiness in the western Julian Alps.



Trend in snow conditions

In the warm and sunny weather, the snowpack will settle during the day today and tomorrow and freeze at night, remaining mostly dry only in the gullies of the high mountains. The crust will strengthen. Avalanche conditions will not change significantly until Friday. On Friday it will cool down and the snow will stabilise somewhat.



Next issue: Friday, 1.2.2019



Source: ARSO