Snow conditions 28.4.2016

General danger level - Thursday, 28. 4. 2016

Danger is level 4 on the European five-level scale - HIGH.

Main problem: fresh snow, wet snow

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

Danger pattern: vn2 Creeping snow

Risk assessment

Danger in the mountains, especially in the Julian Alps already above about 1500 m above sea level due to larger quantities of new snow HIGH, 4th level. Especially at places with wind-packed snow and on steeper slopes, even with minor additional stress you can trigger a fresh snow avalanche. On sufficiently steep slopes and in gullies, avalanches can also release spontaneously. In the eastern Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, where there is somewhat less new snow, the danger is CONSIDERABLE, 3rd level. Lower and towards the east, the danger is lower, but everywhere where more new wet snow has fallen on sufficiently steep grassy slopes, also in the hills, the possibility of gliding snow avalanches on the ground is increased - MODERATE, 2nd level.

Snow conditions

CONDITIONS in the mountains have CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY !! By Thursday morning, on the wider area of the Julian Alps above about 1500 m, up to about 100 cm of wet snow has fallen, which due to relatively low temperatures is quite dry and only initially still bonded to the base. Elsewhere there is less new snow, in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps from 30 to about 45 cm, in the Škofjeloški from 20 to 35, elsewhere 10 to 20 cm of new snow. The wind in the mountains has blown the new snow into deposits, forming slabs and cornices. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is from 230 to about 280 cm of snow, at 1500 m from 60 to about 110 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is from 20 to about 70 cm of snow. The consolidated snow cover due to new snow reaches to the valleys, but in the coming days due to the forecasted at least partly sunny weather and gradual warming it will quickly settle and disappear in lower elevations.

Forecast weather development

On Thursday it will mostly be cloudy and foggy, with occasional precipitation. The snow line will slowly rise and in the afternoon above 1000 m above sea level. In the afternoon it may partly clear in places. A light to moderate southwesterly wind will blow, in the morning and forenoon in the mid-mountains southeasterly. Temperature at 1500 m in the afternoon around -2, at 2500 m -6 degrees C. On Friday morning and forenoon there may be more sunshine everywhere, In the afternoon some patchy cloudiness will form, a shower may occur, above about 1500 m as a snow shower. A light wind from eastern directions will blow. Temperature at 1500 m around 1, at 2500 m -4 degrees C.

Trend of snow conditions

On Thursday the snow line is at about 1000 m above sea level and will rise to about 1500 m by Friday and on Saturday already above 2000 m. The new snow will settle and transform and relatively quickly harden even in the high mountains, however the conditions will especially in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks still be unfavorable, numerous sufficiently steep slopes may avalanche spontaneously. On Sunday we expect some precipitation again, snow line at about 1600 m. The danger of snow avalanches will thus only slowly decrease over the weekend.



Source: ARSO