Snow conditions 3. 3. 2025

General avalanche danger level - Monday, 3. 3. 2025
The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind slab, weak layers, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger above about 1700 m is MODERATE, level 2, and below LOW, level 1. Steep slopes with wind slab are especially dangerous, mainly on south and west sides of ridges and passes. There, with greater snowpack loading, slab avalanches can be triggered. On wind-scoured areas, the base is hard and icy, with risk of slipping.

Snow conditions
In shaded and sheltered spots, snow is soft and light, on sun-exposed areas it is already crusty and lower down softens during the day, while in shade it remains dry or frozen. Wind-exposed locations are hard and icy. In the mid-mountains, snow is generally hard and partly icy, but changing with warming. Weak layers exist in the snowpack, mostly covered by a harder snow layer, but they will become more pronounced with warming.

Forecast weather development
Today, Monday, clear. Weak northeast wind. Zero isotherm will rise to about 1800 m by evening. Tomorrow mostly clear with some high clouds. Weak south to southeast wind. Zero isotherm above 2000 m. Wednesday mostly clear and warmer, zero level at about 2500 m. Weak south wind. Thursday continued fairly warm and clear with weak wind.

Trend in snow conditions
In the coming days, warming and daily cycle of snow and avalanche conditions with clear weather will become prominent. On sun-exposed slopes, snowpack will become slushy during the day and refreeze at night, crust will strengthen. Avalanche danger will thus INCREASE from mid-morning to late afternoon when wet snow avalanches can release spontaneously from steep slopes, and full-depth on grassy slopes. In shade, snow will mostly remain dry or frozen, as air will be quite dry. Slabs remain, becoming more unstable with daily warming; similarly, weak layers will influence sliding when the surface softens during the day. Therefore, avoid steep sun-exposed slopes, gullies, and areas with wind slab at this time.

Next issue: Thursday, 6. 3. 2025

Source: ARSO