Snow conditions 31.5.2021

Danger level is 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wet snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
The avalanche danger is currently mostly LOW, level 1, but during the day it will increase in the high mountains due to the sun and become MODERATE, level 2. Steep sun-exposed slopes will be particularly hazardous, where snow softens during the day due to the sun, and shaded areas where there is still some unprocessed snow. During the day, individual small wet snow avalanches may occur due to daytime warming. Steep gullies with snow deposits will also be more dangerous. In the mid-mountains, the snow is old and settled and stable. Danger may exist mainly in areas near cliffs and at the exits of longer gullies, where an avalanche can be triggered from higher sections. There are also many windslabs in the high mountains that can be triggered by increased load on the snowpack. Conditions there are wintery. The snowpack has frozen due to the clear night, so there is a risk of slipping especially in the morning and midday hours.

Snow conditions
There is relatively much snow in the high mountains and also in some mid-mountain areas. There were no significant new precipitations at the end of the week, about 10 cm of snow fell in some high mountain areas, which has only slightly transformed in shaded spots due to low temperatures, but is crusty. Elsewhere, on the old and recrystallized snowpack, there is newer, less transformed snow. There are windslabs and cornices in the high mountains. In the morning, the snow is frozen and icy in places, it softens during the day, but remains hard and frozen only in shaded high mountain spots.

Forecast weather development
Today it will be mostly clear at first. During the day, cumulus clouds will develop and some summits may be in clouds. In the afternoon, short showers are possible especially in the eastern part of our mountains. The wind will be light from northerly directions, the freezing level will rise to about 2400 m above sea level during the day. Tomorrow the weather will be similar, no afternoon showers expected. The wind will be light and variable, light northerly in the high mountains. Freezing level around 2700 m above sea level. On Wednesday and Thursday, relatively sunny weather will continue, afternoon showers will be somewhat more likely especially in the northwest. It will be even warmer, freezing level above the highest summits.

Trend in snow conditions
Today and in the coming days, we expect a typical spring situation. New snow will ripen during the day and become more unstable, at night it will freeze due to clear weather. The avalanche release danger will thus be mostly LOW, level 1, only in the high mountains it will increase during the day to MODERATE, level 2. Especially in the morning there will be considerable slipping risk. In the mid-mountains snow will dwindle, higher up it will transform and settle. There is still quite a lot of snow in the mountains and snow patches will probably persist even into summer. THIS IS THE LAST AVALANCHE REPORT OF THE 2020/2021 SEASON. We will start with new reports at the first significant snowfall in autumn or early winter.

Next publication: Monday, 15. 11. 2021

Source: ARSO