Snow conditions 4.12.2015

AVALANCHE RISK ASSESSMENT



Avalanche danger is level 1.



The snowpack is stable.



Risk is low. No spontaneous avalanching.





SNOW CONDITIONS and CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK



The snowpack is dry, on sun-exposed slopes and at lower elevations covered with a thin crust that formed from daytime melting and nighttime freezing. During the day, snow on sun-exposed spots softens, at night it freezes. Temperature was mostly above zero, only in valleys and frost hollows it cooled below zero at night. Snow was transforming, somewhat faster on sun-exposed slopes, especially in mid-mountain areas.



In the Julian Alps at 2500 m elevation there is about 30 cm of snow, elsewhere in our mountains from 5 to 20 cm. Significant snowpack starts above 1000 m elevation, in some shady areas even lower.



FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Today below about 1100 m cloudy and foggy, higher mostly clear. During the day low clouds will dissipate in places. Temperature will be above zero everywhere, above the cloud layer the air will be dry. Therefore snow will soften only on sun-exposed spots, even in the high mountains. Southwest wind will blow, turning to northeast in the afternoon.



Tomorrow moderately to mostly cloudy. Temperature will remain above zero, only the freezing level will temporarily drop to around 2500 m elevation at night and in the morning, but will rise during the day. West to southwest wind will blow.



On Sunday it will be sunny in the eastern part of our mountains. Also elsewhere in the high mountains sunny weather, lower more cloudy and foggy in places. Strong southwest wind will blow. Still warm.







TENDENCY OF SNOW CONDITIONS



Snow will transform especially in mid-mountains and on sun-exposed slopes and also thin out. Especially in shady spots there is a somewhat greater chance of slips due to partly icy surface.



General avalanche danger is level 1 on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO