4.05.2015
AVALANCHE RISK
Avalanche danger is mostly level 1, above about 2000 m mostly level 2.
The snowpack is generally stable, but due to precipitation in the past week and relatively warm weather, the snowpack in the high mountains has become saturated to the ground in many places, only in the highest areas of the high mountains has the snowpack remained partially frozen. Greater risk is in the high mountains, lower down there is too little snow.
The risk is low. Spontaneous avalanching is not expected for the most part, only individual wet snow avalanches from steep slopes are possible, mainly midday and in the afternoon. You can trigger an avalanche on rare steep slopes in the high mountains only with significant additional loading.
SNOW CONDITIONS
In the past week there have been occasional precipitation events. It snowed mostly above about 2000 m. The freezing level fluctuated considerably. It was mostly above about 2200 m above sea level, in the last days it gradually rose and yesterday it was already above the highest peaks. The snowpack melted lower down, rain saturated it to the ground. Only in the high mountains, especially in the Julians, a few centimetres of wet snow fell, which has already transformed or melted by today. In the high mountains the snow initially remained frozen, but with gradual warming and mostly cloudy weather it froze at night mainly in the eastern part of our mountains.
In the Julian Alps at 2500 m above sea level there is up to about 160 cm of snow, in the mid-mountains there is some snow only in gullies and on plateaus.
Elsewhere in our mountains there is less snow. Significant snowpack extends mostly to about 1600 m above sea level, on sun-facing slopes mostly above 2000 m.
CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK
The snowpack is well settled. Due to the warm air mass the snow on the surface is softened, at night it can freeze only in places with clear weather.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today it will be fairly sunny and dry in the eastern part of our mountains. Elsewhere it will be mostly cloudy and foggy, occasionally light rain may occur in the west, but the amount of precipitation will be negligible. A moderate southwesterly will blow. Tomorrow the southwesterly will strengthen and be quite strong. It will be dry, occasionally more cloudiness, but the base will be quite high, except in the western part of the Julian Alps. Relatively warm.
TRENDS IN SNOW CONDITIONS
Due to warm weather the snowpack will mostly remain softened on the surface, it will gradually become saturated to the ground, except in the highest parts of the high mountains. Therefore, the avalanche risk in the high mountains will remain at level 2. From some steep slope a saturated snow avalanche may also release.
Next report will be published on Wednesday, 6.5.2015.
Source: ARSO