Snow conditions 6.12.2019

The danger level is 2 - MODERATE on the European five-level scale.

Main problem: wind slab, new snow

Danger pattern: cooling after warm weather / warming after cold



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is MODERATE, 2nd level, in high mountains above about 1800 m elevation, lower down LOW, 1st level. There are many windslabs and slabs that can trigger especially on steeper slopes already under minor additional load on the snowpack, from steep sun-exposed slopes spontaneous release of wet snow slabs is possible especially in the early afternoon.



Snow conditions

Sunny weather with strong temperature fluctuations prevailed in the mountains in recent days. The air was dry, so the snow softened somewhat in the sun during the day, froze at night, and remained dry in shaded areas. The freezing level was between 2700 and 3000 m above sea level, the wind was mostly light. The snowpack is crusty on sun-exposed slopes, mostly soft in shaded, sheltered locations. Where exposed to wind, it is also hard or crusty. There are many windslabs, wind-exposed spots are heavily scoured.



Forecast weather evolution

Today mostly clear weather with some high cloudiness will prevail in the mountains, in the mid-mountains of the southern Julian Alps and in the foothills mostly cloudy and locally foggy. Moderate southwest wind will blow. The zero isotherm will descend during the day to elevations between 2000 and 2200 m. Tomorrow moderately cloudy, occasionally mostly cloudy especially in the western part of our mountains, mostly high cloudiness which can occasionally be quite dense. Light wind of variable direction. Freezing level mostly between 1900 and 2300 m above sea level. On Sunday similar weather, but in the western part of our mountains it will become cloudier in the afternoon, there the highest peaks might remain above the clouds. Southwest wind will strengthen. Zero isotherm will descend in the west, elsewhere rise above 2500 m. On Monday a weather front with precipitation will reach us.



Trend of snow conditions

Snow will soften somewhat especially on sun-exposed slopes during the day, freeze at night. Above higher peaks and in gullies it will mostly remain dry. Avalanche conditions will not change much by the end of the week, the snowpack will mostly become somewhat more stable.



Next bulletin: Monday, 9 December 2019



Source: ARSO