Snow conditions 27. 2. 2025

General danger level - Thursday, 27. 2. 2025
The danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: wind slab, weak layers, new snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost
Danger pattern: Rain

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is above about 1700 m CONSIDERABLE, level 3, lower down MODERATE, level 2. By Thursday morning, 20 to 30 cm of new snow has fallen in the last 24 hours. Steeper slopes with wind slab are especially dangerous, found on southern and south-western aspects. Slabs can be triggered with minor additional load. In the high mountains, spontaneous release of dry loose snow is possible on steeper slopes. Additional danger are weak layers still present in deeper layers, which can be disrupted with slightly greater load.

Snow conditions
By Thursday morning, 20 to 30 cm of new snow has fallen above about 1700 m in the last 24 hours, the amount of new snow is fairly evenly distributed across the mountains. The snow line was initially around 1600 m, dropping a few hundred meters lower in the evening. Snow fell on a base that was firm and crusted in many places, especially on sun-exposed slopes. Below about 1600 m, snow was wetter and bonded better to the base. Moderate to strong northeast wind built new areas of wind slab on southern and south-western aspects. Weak layers may still lurk in deeper layers in places.

Forecast weather development
Today, Monday, initially cloudy with light snowfall, very little precipitation. Clearing from the west in the afternoon. Initially light to moderate northeast wind, weakening further during the day. Temperature at 1500 m around -1 °C, at 2500 m around -5 °C. Tomorrow mostly cloudy and foggy with snow showers occurring. Light southerly wind. Temperature at 1500 m around -2 °C, at 2500 m around -8 °C. Saturday will continue cold and cloudy with possibility of light snowfall. Sunday clearing. Next week more sunny and markedly warmer.

Trend in snow conditions
Snow conditions will not change markedly in the coming days. A major change due to the forecasted marked warming is expected next week.

Next issue: Sunday, 2. 3. 2025

Source: ARSO