Snow conditions 27. 3. 2025

General danger level - Thursday, 27. 3. 2025
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: weak layers, wind slab
Danger pattern: cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is above sea level around 1600 m MODERATE, level 2, lower SMALL, level 1. Mainly dangerous are spots with fresh wind-deposited snow above 2000 m. A strong northeast wind is blowing, mainly around ridges and summits transporting snow and depositing it on south-facing slopes. Areas of wind slab are currently not large. On aspects, snow from previous snowfall has buried old weak layers, which can fail under high load and trigger a dry slab avalanche. In lower elevations below 1800 m, a wet snow avalanche may also release, but the probability for this will be low today and in the coming days.

Snow conditions
With warmer weather, the snowpack on sun-exposed slopes has started to transform faster in recent days and even melt in lower elevations. In shady high mountain locations, the transformation of the snowpack is significantly slower. Weak layers remain buried under new snow and can represent a weak point under high load. During snow showers, mainly 5 to 10 cm of fresh snow fell on Tuesday. A strong northeast wind is blowing, mainly forming new small wind slabs in the high mountains. These can release with minor load.

Forecast weather development
Today mostly cloudy, cloud cover variable. High mountain summits often in fog. Moderate to strong northeast wind blowing. Temperature at 1500 m around 3, at 2500 m around -4 °C. Tomorrow morning some clear skies, but clouding over quickly during the day. Summits in fog in the afternoon. Light precipitation starting midday. Snow line between 1500 and 1800 m above sea level. Mostly moderate northeast wind continues. Temperature at 1500 m around 3, at 2500 m around -2 °C. Saturday looks cloudy, foggy and windy with precipitation. Snow line between 1300 and 1600 m above sea level. More precipitation expected in the Pohorje area, Eastern Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Strong northerly wind blowing. Temperature at 1500 m around 1, at 2500 m around -4 °C. Sunday clearing up. Initially strong northerly wind, weakening during the day. Temperature at 1500 m around 5, at 2500 m around -3 °C.

Trend in snow conditions
With more cloudy weather, snowpack transformation will slow down. Tomorrow snow and avalanche conditions similar. Avoid spots with fresh wind-deposited snow. Saturday expect snow with wind. In high mountains mostly 20 to 30 cm snow, around 10 cm in Western Julian Alps. Avalanche danger will INCREASE due to fresh slabs.

Next issue: Friday, 28. 3. 2025

Source: ARSO