Snow conditions 29.4.2022

General avalanche danger level - Friday, 29.4.2022
The danger is level 1 on the European 5-level scale - LOW.
Main problem: wet snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
The avalanche danger is LOW everywhere, level 1. The snowpack is mostly well bonded and stable. A bit more caution is needed in the high mountains, where the snowpack from the last snowfall has not yet fully settled. Under heavy load, you can trigger a small slab avalanche. On steep sun-exposed slopes, small wet snow avalanches are possible. Winter conditions still prevail in higher areas, wind-exposed and shady spots are dangerous for slipping.

Snow conditions
During the night to Wednesday, the snow line dropped below 1500 m again. In the high mountains, 10 to 20 cm of snow fell, lower down there was little snow. Under the influence of the sun on Wednesday daytime and Thursday, the snow began to transform and melt on sun-facing slopes. In more shaded areas, however, the snow remained dry and light due to the dry air mass, and a crust formed in places. The snow froze during the day and refroze at night. Wind-exposed areas are scoured and icy in places. In the mid-mountains, the snowpack is melting under the sun's influence and there is no longer a consolidated snowpack in many places. Large differences in quantity exist between sun-facing and shaded areas.

Forecast weather development
Today it will still be mostly clear, with only a few shallow cumulus clouds forming. A light to moderate northeast wind will blow, weakening during the day. Temperature at 1500 m around 7, at 2500 m around -1 °C. On Saturday, it will be mostly clear at first, with cumulus cloudiness developing during the day, which will envelop some peaks or high mountain slopes in fog. Mostly light winds from easterly directions will blow. Temperature at 1500 m around 7, at 2500 m around 0 °C. On Sunday, it will be mostly cloudy and foggy. Frequent local showers will occur, more pronounced in the midday and afternoon. The snow line will be around 1800 m. A light southeast wind will blow. Temperature at 1500 m around 4, at 2500 m around -2 °C. Also at the beginning of next week, the weather will be variable with local precipitation, more frequent in the midday and afternoon. The mountains will often be shrouded in clouds. The wind will be light. It will be somewhat warmer. The zero isotherm will rise to around 2500 m on Tuesday.

Trend in snow conditions
Snow conditions will remain similar on Saturday. As it will be somewhat warmer, small southern snow avalanches may be possible. On Sunday and Monday, it will snow occasionally in the high mountains, with 10 to 20 cm of more or less moist snow possible. The avalanche release danger will increase slightly in the high mountains on Monday daytime with the daily thaw. The next avalanche bulletin will be published on Wednesday, 4.5.2022.

Next issue: Wednesday, 4.5.2022

Source: ARSO