3.01.2021
The danger is at level 4 on the European five-level scale - HIGH.
Main problem: weak layers, new snow
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is primarily in the high mountains of the Julian Alps above about 1300 m altitude HIGH, level 4, lower down and elsewhere in our mountains above about 1400 m CONSIDERABLE, level 3. Steeper slopes and places with wind-blown snow as well as gullies where snow has accumulated are particularly dangerous. There, individual medium-large and large avalanches of new, poorly bonded snow, as well as slab avalanches, can release from steep slopes. An avalanche can also be triggered by a small load on the snowpack already on medium-steep slopes with wind-blown snow.
Snow conditions
Overnight into Sunday, 30 to about 60 cm of snow fell in the area of the Julian Alps and the western and central Karawanks, depending on altitude and geographical location. During snowfall, a strengthened wind from the south to southwest was blowing. In the eastern part of our mountains, there is 10 to about 20 cm of new snow. The snow is soft and light, below it there is still poorly transformed and mostly soft snow cover. There are many wind slabs and drifts, wind-exposed locations are heavily scoured. Snow is dry, below about 1300 m it is wet.
Forecast weather development
Today it will initially be cloudy and foggy, during the day cloud cover will thin in the high mountains, in the mid-mountains it will remain mostly foggy. Individual snow showers will occur. A weak southwest wind will blow. The zero-degree level is at about 1200 m altitude. Tomorrow it will be mostly cloudy and foggy, but in the afternoon clouds will thin mainly in the high mountains and in the western Julian Alps. Individual snow showers will form. Initially a weak south to southeast wind, then southwest wind. The zero-degree level will mostly be below 1000 m altitude. On Tuesday it will be moderately to mostly cloudy, mainly foggy in the mid-mountains. A weak to moderate southwest wind will blow. It will be a little colder, so temperatures in the mountains will be below zero. Overnight into Wednesday there will be transient snowfall from the south, snowfall will stop on Wednesday morning and there will be individual snow showers during the day. Approximately 10 to over 20 cm of snow is expected.
Trend in snow conditions
The snowpack will settle and transform only slowly, the snow will remain dry and soft. There will be no strong wind, on the eastern and northern sides of ridges and saddles mainly small wind drifts will form primarily in the high mountains. Avalanche danger will decrease only slowly. Conditions in the mountains are demanding and dangerous.
Next bulletin: Wednesday, 6.1.2021
Source: ARSO