Snow conditions 29.1.2020

The danger level is 2 on the European 5-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: new snow, wind-blown snow, wet snow

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above 1800 m altitude is MODERATE, level 2, lower down mostly LOW, level 1 due to smaller snowpack height. Due to new snow, avalanche danger has slightly INCREASED. Especially steeper slopes in the high mountains are dangerous, where dry loose snow avalanches can release spontaneously. Under minor load, you can also trigger small to medium slab avalanches.



Snow conditions

On Tuesday above about 1600 m altitude it mostly snowed, lower down rain and snow alternated. At the end of precipitation, the snow line locally dropped to about 800 m, but very little snow fell at lower altitudes. In total, 15 to 40 cm of snow fell in the high mountains, most in the western and southern Julian Alps. In the mid-mountains, the height of new snow is 5 to max 20 cm. During snowfall, moderate to strong southwest wind blew, transporting snow and building cornices and drifts. The new snow cover is thus especially in the high mountains very unevenly distributed, on exposed parts it can be wind-packed to a hard and partly icy base. Especially on northern and western slopes, new slabs have formed. With today's cooling, more southern snow in the mid-mountains has frozen and bonded well to the base. Higher up, the snow cover is mostly loose, where there was increased wind influence a weak crust has formed. In the high mountains, snow has bonded poorly to the base.



Expected weather development

Today partly clear, occasional increased lumpy cloudiness. Clearing in the afternoon. Moderate to strong northwest wind will blow. At 1500 m about -2, at 2500 m -11 °C. On Thursday initially mostly clear, in the afternoon high cloudiness will increase. In the southern Julian Alps and their foothills, low cloudiness will also form, some peaks there may be in clouds. Moderate southwest, in high mountains westerly wind will blow. At 1500 m about -2, at 2500 m -6 °C. On Friday partly clear with occasional increased high feathery cloudiness. In the foothills of the Julians there will also be some low cloudiness. Weak to moderate wind from westerly directions will blow. It will warm up. At 1500 m around 6, at 2500 m 2 °C.



Trend in snow conditions

Avalanche danger will initially gradually decrease. Still, areas with wind-blown snow will be more dangerous, where especially on already medium-steep western and northern slopes you can trigger a slab avalanche. Occasional strong wind will build new drifts in the high mountains. On Friday, new snow on sun-facing aspects will crust over and start to transform faster and also melt in the mid-mountains. Especially on steeper slopes, the danger of wet snow avalanches will increase during the day. Greater danger will be especially in the high mountains of the southern and western Julians, where the amounts of new snow are now the largest. Wind-strongly exposed places will be scoured to the old base and there the danger of gliding avalanches will continue.



Next publication: Saturday, 1. 2. 2020



Source: ARSO