Snow conditions 4.12.2019

The danger is 3rd degree on the European five-point scale - CONSIDERABLE.

Main problem: wind slab

Danger pattern: cooling after warm weather / warming after cold



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is primarily in the high mountains of the Julian Alps above about 1800 m a.s.l. CONSIDERABLE, 3rd degree, lower down and elsewhere in the high mountains MODERATE, 2nd degree. There are many wind slabs and soft slabs, which can release especially on steeper slopes already under minor additional load, and from steep slopes a slab avalanche can also release spontaneously.



Snow conditions

After Monday's snowfall yesterday was dry and cold weather, today it is already warming up in the high areas, but the air is dry. The snowpack is still soft and loose, on wind-exposed sites strongly wind-packed, in places also crusty and harder due to wind. Lower, below about 1800 m a.s.l., there is relatively little snow, but it is refrozen and hard.



Forecast weather evolution

Today and tomorrow mostly clear, the wind will decrease and be light tomorrow. With the influx of warmer air, temperature is already above freezing today above about 1800 m, the layer of cold air with negative temperatures will gradually sink lower and tomorrow even in the mid-mountains the temperature will be positive. But the air will be very dry. On Friday cloudy in the hills of northern Primorska and Notranjska and on the southern foothills of the Julian Alps, elsewhere fairly sunny. The southwesterly will strengthen.



Trend in snow conditions

With gradual warming but dry air mass, the snowpack will slowly settle and metamorphose and stabilize. On Friday the southwesterly will again transport snow and form new wind slabs. Here and there a thin crust will form. The avalanche danger will slowly decrease. Places with wind slabs on sufficiently steep slopes will remain dangerous.



Next issue: Friday, 6.12.2019



Source: ARSO