5.01.2018
General danger level - Friday, 5. 1. 2018
Danger is 3rd degree on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: wind-blown snow, new snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is currently above about 1300 m CONSIDERABLE, 3rd degree, lower MODERATE, 2nd degree. Especially steeper slopes with wind-blown snow are dangerous, where even minor loading can trigger a slab avalanche.
Snow conditions
Today it has warmed up in the mountains, freezing level is around 2500 m. The snowpack is settling and transforming, due to positive temperatures it has initially become somewhat labile. Snow is mostly soft, only on wind-exposed sites crusty, sometimes also hard. There are many slabs, ridges and cols are quite wind-scoured.
Forecast weather development
Today partly clear in the eastern Karawanks and on Pohorje, elsewhere cloudy and foggy, cloud top currently around 2000 m and rising in the afternoon. Weak to moderate southwesterly will blow, strengthening in the afternoon when light precipitation will begin to appear especially in the Julian Alps and foothills. Tomorrow, Saturday, cloudy and foggy, only on Pohorje and partly in eastern Karawanks some clear skies. Precipitation in the area of Julian Alps and foothills more frequent, some possible also in Kamnik-Savinja Alps and western and central Karawanks. Snowfall line above 1600 m. Moderate to strong southwesterly wind. Sunday similar weather, only precipitation less frequent, mostly in the area of Snežnik and southern and western part of Julian Alps. Wind more southerly. Weather unchanged until Monday morning.
Tendency of snow conditions
Snowpack will settle and transform in the next days, lower also melt. It will slowly become more stable. Night to Tuesday more precipitation with passage of cold front. Below snowfall line snow will soak, higher new snow will fall, therefore avalanche danger will increase.
Next issue: Monday, 8. 1. 2018
Source: ARSO