3.03.2023
General avalanche danger level - Friday, 3 March 2023
The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind slab
Danger pattern: cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is MODERATE, level 2, above about 1600 m altitude, LOW, level 1, lower down. Steeper slopes with wind-drifted snow are particularly dangerous, where you can trigger a slab avalanche. Spontaneous avalanching is unlikely. In recent days, wind has transported snow and formed wind slabs on south and west sides of ridges and saddles. Wind-exposed locations are scoured to the old, frozen base, so there is a risk of slipping there. In sheltered locations, the snow is light but already somewhat bonded to the old base, conditions are stable.
Snow conditions
Beneath the new snowpack, depth hoar is present in places, which may form a weak layer in future. The new snow has remained dry, wind has drifted it into slabs. The old snow has frozen, but is mostly covered with new snow. The snow is light and soft, the older base where without new snow is hard and also icy. There are many wind slabs, new smaller cornices have formed. The snowpack depth is quite uneven, as is the amount of new snow. There is considerably less snow on sun-facing slopes than on shade-facing ones.
Forecast weather development
Friday cloudy, occasionally foggy in places, weak northeast wind blowing. Temperature at 1500 m above sea level -1°C, at 2500 m -6°C. Saturday mostly clear. During the day it warms up significantly, temperature at 1500 m around 3°C. Sunday after a clear morning gradually clouds over during the day. Cloudy weather with occasional snowfall also at the start of next week.
Tendency of snow conditions
Saturday after a clear and cold morning warms up significantly during the day, avalanche danger especially on sun-facing slopes CONSIDERABLE, level 3. Expect shedding of snow that fell in recent days. Sunday somewhat cooler and presumably more cloudy during the day, so avalanche danger will decrease. Monday cloudy with occasional snowfall, temperature at 1500 m around -3°C. Similar conditions on Tuesday as well.
Next issue: Monday, 6 March 2023
Source: ARSO