Snow conditions 31. 12. 2024

General danger level - Tuesday, 31. 12. 2024
The danger is level 1 on the European five-level scale - LOW.
Main problem: wind slab, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is LOW, level 1. There is little snow in the mountains. More caution is needed in areas where the north wind drifted snow a few days ago. These are mainly gullies where, under greater load, it is possible to trigger a slab avalanche. Warm air persists at altitude, on sun-exposed areas it is possible to trigger a small wet snow avalanche. Some areas are icy, hence risk of slipping.

Snow conditions
Sunny and warm weather continues in the mountains. The 0 °C isotherm was this morning at about 2600 m a.s.l. As the air is dry, snow freezes everywhere at night. During the day, however, the snowpack thins on sun-exposed slopes and melts in places. There is little snow in the mountains. Snowpack height is very uneven due to windy weather in recent days. On more exposed slopes snow is completely blown off, in lee areas there is drifted snow, cornices. Due to sun and wind influence, snow is crusted. Wind-exposed slopes are icy in places.

Forecast weather evolution
Today, Tuesday, clear weather continues with pronounced temperature inversion. Light to moderate west to southwest wind has already begun blowing. Temperature at 1500 m around 5, at 2500 m around 0 °C. Tomorrow, Wednesday, still mostly clear. Only in the pre-Alpine region of western Slovenia will it start clouding over, some summits in clouds. Light to moderate west to southwest wind blowing, strengthening in the afternoon. Slightly cooler. On Thursday, low cloud from Primorska will spread over most mountains. Some clear skies initially only locally in high mountains, in parts of Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Foggy in many places. Light precipitation will start during the day. Snowfall line at sea level between 1000 and 1500 m. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Temperature at 1500 m around -1, at 2500 m around -4 °C. Thursday night to Friday transitional snowfall, but precipitation will probably mostly cease by morning. Friday clearing, initially moderate northeast wind weakening during the day. More pronounced cooling. At 1500 m midday around -5, at 2500 m around -11 °C.

Trend in snow conditions
Snow conditions will not change today and tomorrow. Thursday and especially Thursday night to Friday snowfall in mid-mountains and high mountains. Precipitation amount forecast still uncertain, but bulk likely again in southern Slovenia. In our Alps expected about 10 cm snow. In southern Julian Alps area probably more. Strengthened southwest wind will transport fresh snow Thursday. Avalanche danger will likely increase slightly Friday. Bulletin updated Friday, 3 January 2025.

Next issue: Friday, 3. 1. 2025

Source: ARSO