Snow conditions 27.2.2023

General danger level - Monday, 27. 2. 2023
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind slab
Danger pattern: Cold weather, poorly bonded fresh snow with wind

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger above about 1500 m altitude is MODERATE, level 2, lower down LOW, level 1. Steeper slopes with wind slab are particularly dangerous, where even a small additional load can trigger a slab avalanche. Spontaneous avalanching is unlikely. Wind is still transporting snow and forming wind slabs on western and southern sides of ridges and saddles. Wind-exposed locations are scoured to the old, frozen base layer, so there is a risk of slipping there.

Snow conditions
With the strong cooling, the new snow has remained dry, wind is drifting it into slabs. The old snow has frozen, but is mostly covered with some new snow. The snow is light and soft, the older base where without new snow is hard and also icy. There are many wind slabs, new smaller cornices have formed. The snowpack depth is quite uneven, also the amount of new snow.

Forecast weather development
Today, on Monday, mostly cloudy, partly foggy in the mountains in places. Only in the western Julian Alps might the sun appear occasionally in the afternoon. Weak to moderate northeast wind blowing. Temperatures below zero. Tomorrow too the weather will be similar, wind weaker. On Wednesday mainly in the morning partly clear in places, during the day gradually clouding from the south. Towards evening light snow in places occasionally. Easterly wind will strengthen somewhat. Zero isotherm will rise to about 900 m altitude. On Thursday cloudy and partly foggy in places and mostly dry. Wind will weaken somewhat again.

Trend in snow conditions
Snow and avalanche conditions will not change much due to mostly cloudy and cold weather. Wind will still transport snow, but no major new wind slabs. Snow will remain dry and soft, only settling somewhat. Due to low temperatures, depth hoar may form in cold pockets, which means the formation of a weak layer in the snowpack.

Next issue: Thursday, 2. 3. 2023

Source: ARSO