Snow conditions 29.4.2019

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

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

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger in the high mountains of most of our mountains is currently CONSIDERABLE, 3rd degree, above sea level around 1700 m, lower down MODERATE, 2nd degree. In the high mountains, slab avalanches of new, poorly bonded snow can release from steep slopes. The new snow is also quite wind-packed, so cornices, which have mostly formed on the southern and western sides of ridges and saddles, are dangerous. In the high mountains the snow was dry, so there is a weak layer in the snowpack along which the new snow can slide. You can trigger an avalanche already on less steep slopes, especially at places with wind-blown snow, even with minor loading of the snowpack.



Snow conditions

In the mountains, a total of 15 to about 70 cm of snow fell over the weekend, the most in the Julian Alps, somewhat less in the central and western Karawanks, much less in the eastern part of our mountains. The new snow is soft and light due to the cooling. There are many cornices, wind-exposed locations are quite scoured. Lower down, where it initially rained, the new snow has bonded well to the base, and the amount of new snow is smaller, so the snowpack is more stable despite the new snow.



Expected weather development

Today variable to mostly cloudy. A strengthened northerly wind will blow. Tomorrow initially partly clear, clouding over during the day and especially in the afternoon local precipitation with snow line around 1400 m above sea level. The wind will initially be light, but will strengthen again in the afternoon with northerly wind. On Wednesday and Thursday partly clear with variable cloudiness, isolated showers will form in the afternoon. Somewhat warmer, zero degree at sea level around 2400 m. On Friday more cloudy with occasional precipitation. It will snow above around 1800 m.



Tendency of snow conditions

Due to low temperatures and mostly cloudy weather, the snow in the high mountains, especially in shady aspects, will remain poorly transformed and soft and therefore more unstable than lower down and on sunny aspects. There the sun will occasionally influence faster transformation and settling of the new snow. Above all, places with wind-blown snow and shady locations in the high mountains on sufficiently steep slopes will remain dangerous. There, a slab of dry, poorly bonded snow or a cornice may still release, but above all you can trigger a slab yourself even with minor loading of the snowpack. On Wednesday and Thursday, due to clearer weather, the snowpack will be somewhat more stable in the morning and early afternoon because it will refreeze overnight, then it will soften under the influence of the sun on sun-exposed locations. In shady aspects there will be no significant difference between morning and afternoon. In general, the avalanche danger will only SLOWLY decrease. On Friday we expect new precipitation. The impact of precipitation on avalanche conditions will depend mainly on the amount. Conditions are different in the eastern part of the Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, where less snow fell.



Next issue: Friday, 3. 5. 2019



Source: ARSO