5.02.2018
General avalanche danger level - Monday, 5. 2. 2018
The danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: wind-drifted snow, new snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / thaw after frost
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger has increased due to new snow in the mountains above about 1200 m elevation and is CONSIDERABLE, level 3. Lower down it is mostly MODERATE, level 2. Quite a few avalanches have already released. There is a lot of wind-drifted snow and slabs. Due to low temperatures, the new snow has only settled somewhat and stabilized slightly. Steeper slopes and places with wind-drifted snow are especially dangerous, where even with a small load on the snowpack you can trigger an avalanche. From steep slopes, individual small and medium-sized dry snow avalanches can still release, the probability is higher on sun-exposed slopes with possible sunny weather midday and early afternoon.
Snow conditions
There is a lot of new snow everywhere in the hills. On Saturday it was occasionally still snowing, 5 to 15 cm of snow fell. There is really a lot of new snow. Temperature was below zero, a strengthened wind from northern directions blew, on Primorska bora. The new snow has already settled somewhat. The snowpack is mostly soft and loose, only on wind-exposed sites is there a crust on the surface in places, ridges and saddles are quite wind-scoured.
Forecast weather development
Today it will be moderately, occasionally mostly cloudy. More sun will be in the eastern part of our mountains and in the high mountains. Mostly weak south to southwest wind will blow. Temperature will be below zero. Tomorrow mostly cloudy, some sun occasionally in the high mountains. Temperature also below zero tomorrow. Weak wind will blow, moderate southwesterly in places in the high mountains. In the night to Wednesday, precipitation will start from the southwest. On Wednesday cloudy and foggy in the hills and mountains with snowfall. Expected 5 to 15 cm of snow. Wind from eastern directions will strengthen.
Trend in snow conditions
The snowpack will settle slowly. Especially on sun-exposed slopes in the mid-mountains it will crust during the day and freeze at night, a thin crust will start to form. Elsewhere the snow will remain soft and due to low temperatures also powdery. No stronger wind until Wednesday, then the easterly will transport snow again and create drifts and slabs. New snow according to today's forecast will be too little to significantly change avalanche conditions. Avalanche danger will remain CONSIDERABLE, level 3. Especially dangerous will be places with wind-drifted snow and steeper slopes, where an avalanche can be triggered even with minor snowpack loading.
Next bulletin: Wednesday, 7. 2. 2018
Source: ARSO