Snow conditions 27.3.2015

The avalanche danger is mostly level 3.



The snowpack is relatively unstable due to new snow and lower down due to rain. The layer of new snow on the old crusty base is unstable, and lower down the rain has soaked the old snow.



The risk is significant. We expect spontaneous release of numerous small and individual medium-sized avalanches, possibly even individual large ones of new snow, especially on steeper slopes. You can easily trigger an avalanche with minor additional load on steeper slopes and areas with wind-blown snow. Below about 1500 m, the snow is wet due to rain and wet old snow slab avalanches can release from steep, mainly grassy or leaf-covered slopes.



SNOW CONDITIONS



In the mountains, it was still snowing yesterday afternoon. Overnight it was mostly dry, but today precipitation has intensified again. The snow line has dropped below 800 m above sea level in places. The most precipitation was in central Slovenia, from Notranjska and Kočevska to the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and parts of the eastern Karawanks, less in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks area and on Pohorje. The layer of snow on the slippery old crusty snowpack has thickened, and below the snow line, rain has further soaked the old snowpack. A strong north wind has started blowing, transporting snow to the southern sides of ridges.



The snowpack depth is quite uneven. In the Julian Alps, at 2500 m above sea level there is up to about 250 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 100 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is less snow, at 1500 m up to about 40 cm, but compared to yesterday, the snowpack has significantly thickened above about 1800 m.

Significant snow cover extends mostly to about 1000 m above sea level.



CURRENT SNOWPACK STATE



The snowpack is currently soft and loose. Below about 1500 m, the snow is wet. There are many wind slabs and cornices.



FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Precipitation will mostly stop by evening. It will clear up overnight. The north wind will strengthen, creating new wind slabs and cornices. Tomorrow it will be mostly clear. Sunday will also be mostly sunny, with warmer air arriving. The wind will weaken and turn westerly.



SNOW CONDITIONS TREND



Avalanche danger will remain at level 3 until Monday. On sun-exposed slopes, the snowpack will become somewhat more labile during the day.



Under sunny weather influence, snow on sun-exposed slopes will melt during the day and freeze at night. The north wind, and on Sunday more westerly to northwesterly, will transport snow and form new wind slabs and cornices. On Sunday, as it warms further at higher elevations, the new snow will settle and transform faster. It will initially become more labile but also transform faster and somewhat stabilize by the start of next week. A crust will form on the surface.



The next report will be published on Monday, 29.3.2015 in the morning.



Source: ARSO