4.04.2015
The avalanche danger is currently still at level 2.
The snowpack is already quite stable, the top layer of snow is somewhat unstable on the old, crusty base, lower down the old snow is soaked to the ground.
The risk is moderate. No spontaneous avalanches are expected. You can trigger an avalanche mainly with greater additional loading of the snowpack on steeper slopes and in places with wind-packed snow.
SNOW CONDITIONS
It was quite sunny and occasionally windy in the mountains. It has cooled down, the freezing level is now at around 1200 m above sea level. The top snow layer has transformed, the crust has strengthened, partly also due to wind, on sun-facing mid-mountain slopes also due to daily warming under the influence of the sun.
The snowpack depth is quite uneven. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m above sea level there is up to around 220 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to around 80 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is less snow, at 1500 m up to around 30 cm. Significant snow cover mostly reaches to around 1100 m above sea level, on sun-facing slopes mostly above around 1400 m.
CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK
The snowpack is mostly covered with crust, in wind-exposed places it is mainly hard, with snow scoured down to the old base. There are many drifts and slabs. During the day, with possible sunny weather, the snow softens somewhat on sun-facing slopes especially in the mid-mountains.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today it will be sunny. Tomorrow it will be cloudy, in the afternoon occasionally light snow, below around 900 m light rain. In the night to Sunday the snow line will drop to around 400 m above sea level, but precipitation will weaken. Up to 5 cm of snow can fall by Sunday morning. A strong northeast to north wind will blow. On Sunday the sun will occasionally shine. Freezing level at around 1000 m above sea level. On Monday morning mostly clear, in the afternoon variably cloudy with local snow showers. Wind from northern directions will still blow. It will be cold.
SNOW CONDITION TRENDS
Avalanche conditions will hardly change. Avalanche danger will decrease to level 1 due to cold weather. Since there will not be much sunshine, no major influence from the sun is expected, somewhat more especially on Monday morning, but due to relatively low temperatures mainly in the mid-mountains.
The next report will be published on Tuesday, 7.4.2015.
Source: ARSO