6.03.2015
The general avalanche danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale.
The avalanche danger is mostly level 2; lower, mostly below the forest line, level 1.
You can trigger a snow slab avalanche with greater load on the snow cover especially on steeper slopes and in areas with wind-deposited snow.
The risk due to wind-deposited snow on and on shady slopes is still primarily due to poor bonding between the old, crusty and partially icy base and the upper layer of newer snow.
SNOW CONDITIONS
In the mountains, there was light snow in places on Wednesday, Thursday was partly sunny, a very strong north wind was blowing and transporting snow into drifts on the south side of ridges. Temperature was below zero. The snow cover was slowly transforming only on shady slopes of the mid-mountains, elsewhere the snow remained frozen and dry. Due to the wind, a crust was forming.
The snow cover height is quite uneven due to frequent windy weather. At 2500 m elevation in the Julian Alps there is snow up to about 210 cm, at 1500 m up to about 120 cm, at 1000 m from 20 to about 60 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is slightly less snow.
Significant snow cover mostly extends to about 1000 m elevation, in valleys and shady aspects even lower.
CURRENT SNOW COVER STATE
The snow cover is mostly covered with crust, only in shady aspects of the high mountains is the snow soft, especially in more sheltered spots. There are many drifts and slabs that are relatively unstable. Ridges and wind-exposed spots are quite scoured and therefore hard and icy in places, even bare.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today and over the weekend, sunny weather will prevail. Temperature will remain below zero, on Saturday the freezing level will temporarily rise to about 1000 m elevation. Today a strong north wind will still blow, which will weaken slightly on Saturday and Sunday and turn more to the northeast.
SNOW CONDITIONS TREND
The avalanche danger will not change in most of our mountains. The wind will still transport snow, drifts will form on the west and south sides of ridges and passes. Due to the wind, the crust will also strengthen. Areas with wind-deposited snow on steeper slopes will remain more dangerous. Only on shady slopes of the mid-mountains will the snow soften during the day due to solar influence and freeze at night. Especially in wind-exposed spots there is also a risk of gliding.
No spontaneous avalanching is expected.
The next report will be published on Monday, 9.3.2015.