Snow conditions 29.1.2021

The danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.

Main problem: wind-drifted snow, weak layers, new snow



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above sea level around 1800 m is CONSIDERABLE, level 3, lower down mostly MODERATE, level 2. There is a lot of wind-drifted snow in the mountains, which, especially in the high mountains, can be triggered by even minor loading of the snowpack. Due to the thick snowpack, additional cracks will appear due to warming, especially on steeper slopes, and individual gliding avalanches may also occur. Below around 1800 m above sea level, the snow has slid considerably during the last thaw and rain, so there is currently less probability of an avalanche there.



Snow conditions

It has warmed up again in the mountains, but the air is relatively dry, so the snowpack has not yet become too wet. In the high mountains, it is mostly soft, with crust in places formed by wind. Lower down, where new snow lies on a hardened, frozen base, the top layer is slowly becoming more wet. Wind-exposed locations are heavily wind-scoured, icy in places. There is a lot of wind-drifted snow, especially in the high mountains where the newer snow is poorly bonded due to the strong cooling.



Forecast weather development

Today cloudy, occasionally foggy in places. Occasional light snowfall with snow line between 1000 and 1500 m. The snow line will rise during the day. Little precipitation. Moderate to strong southwesterly wind blowing, which will start to weaken in the afternoon. Freezing level at around 2200 m above sea level. Tomorrow morning sunny, then clouding from the west. Wind light in the morning, then southwesterly strengthening. Temperature conditions similar to today. On the night to Sunday, precipitation will begin. The snow line will initially be probably already below 1000 m at the start of precipitation and will quickly drop to the lowlands, cooling. Initially a moderate southwesterly will still blow, which will weaken by Sunday morning and turn to easterly directions. On Sunday during the day, snowfall will weaken and stop in the afternoon. Approximately 10 to 30 cm of snow expected in the mountains. More snow in the high mountains, where it will be colder and the snow drier and lighter. Monday partly clear and initially cold, but warmer air will already flow into the elevations during the day.



Tendency of snow conditions

The snowpack will become somewhat wetter today and tomorrow and therefore transform and settle somewhat faster. Tomorrow, the sun will also affect the snow on sun-facing slopes in the morning. Cracks are present on slopes in places and gliding avalanches can be triggered there. In the high mountains, there will still be considerable danger from wind-drifted snow, where on sufficiently steep slopes you can trigger a slab avalanche even with minor loading. In places under the top snow layer there is depth hoar, which further increases the possibility of sliding. On Sunday, the possibility of sloughing of new, poorly bonded snow from steep slopes will increase somewhat, especially in the high mountains. Lower down, the new snow will presumably bond better to the base. The southwesterly wind will create new drifts. Ridges are hard or icy in many places, with danger of slips there.



Next issue: Monday, 1. 2. 2021



Source: ARSO