Snow conditions 28.11.2016

General danger level - Monday, 28.11.2016

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

Main problem: drifted snow

Danger pattern: vn4 Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost



Risk assessment

Avalanche risk in the high mountains, above about 2200 m a.s.l., is MODERATE, level 2. Elsewhere danger is LOW. Particularly dangerous are areas with drifted snow and steep slopes where an avalanche can be triggered. Ridges are quite wind-scoured and icy in places.



Snow conditions

Last night, during the passage of a cold front, there were precipitations in places. With cooling, the snow line lowered, but below about 1300 m it mostly did not snow. Most snow fell in the area of the eastern Julian Alps, from 5 to about 15 cm. Elsewhere there were almost no precipitations or it was still raining. The north wind transported new snow into drifts. Old snow has frozen, new snow is dry and soft. Bond between old and new snow is weak. At altitude 2500 m in the Julian Alps there is up to about 130 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 15 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is somewhat more snow only on peaks above about 2000 m a.s.l. Significant snow cover is mostly above about 2000 m, only in the eastern Julian Alps snow reaches down to about 1200 m.



Forecast weather development

Today it will clear up, low cloudiness will persist longest in central Slovenia and towards Gorenjska. Gusty north to northeast wind will blow. Temperature in mountains below zero, at 1500 m a.s.l. in the afternoon around -10 °C. Tomorrow clear, wind will somewhat weaken during the day. In higher elevations slightly less cold air will start to arrive. Temperature will still be below zero everywhere in mountains, at 1500 m in the afternoon around -5 °C. On Wednesday initially hazy cloudiness, which will slowly thicken in the afternoon. Wind will turn to northwesterly and strengthen somewhat, especially in high mountains. Warmer, freezing level in the afternoon at about 1700 m a.s.l.



Trend of snow conditions

Avalanche danger will mainly be in the area of the eastern Julian Alps, where it snowed, MODERATE, level 2, elsewhere LOW. Today and tomorrow due to low temperature snow will remain frozen, where some fell it will be soft and loose. North wind will continue to transport snow in areas where it snowed. There slabs will form on south aspects. Elsewhere surface crust will strengthen, snow surface will ice over in places. Dangerous will be drifted snow areas on sufficiently steep slopes where under greater load a slab avalanche can be triggered. Old snow cover will be frozen and thus remain relatively stable. Especially in drifted snow areas there will be danger of slides. On Wednesday and Thursday with warming the snow cover will temporarily become somewhat labile.



General avalanche danger is level 2 on the European five-point scale.



Next issue: Thursday, 1.12.2016



Source: ARSO