6.04.2015
The avalanche danger is currently at level 1.
The snowpack is already quite stable, the top layer of snow on the old, crusty base is somewhat unstable, and lower down the old snow is soaked to the ground.
The risk is low. Only small snow slabs and sloughs can release spontaneously. An avalanche can be triggered on very rare steep slopes and primarily with significant additional stress.
SNOW CONDITIONS
In the mountains it has been occasionally quite windy in recent days, no significant amounts of new snow, it remained cold, the freezing level has been constantly below 1500 m above sea level.
The top snow layer has been transforming, a crust has strengthened, partly due to wind, and on sun-facing mid-mountain slopes also due to daily solar heating.
Snowpack depth is quite uneven. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m above sea level there is up to about 210 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 90 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is less snow, at 1500 m up to about 30 cm. Significant snow cover extends mostly to about 1100 m above sea level, on sun-facing slopes mostly above about 1400 m.
CURRENT SNOWPACK STATE
The snowpack in higher elevations is mostly crusted over, below about 2000 m and in wind-exposed locations it is mainly hard and sometimes icy, with snow scoured to the old base. During the day, in possible sunny weather, snow softens somewhat on sun-facing slopes, especially in the mid-mountains.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today variable cloudiness will form, snow showers will occur and possibly some thunderstorms. The north wind will strengthen again. Tomorrow partly clear, on Wednesday occasionally more cloudiness again, but mostly without precipitation. The freezing level will only rise above 1500 m above sea level on Wednesday.
SNOW CONDITIONS TREND
Avalanche conditions will hardly change. Avalanche danger will remain at level 1 due to cold and windy weather.
Only on Wednesday will the snowpack on sun-facing slopes possibly soften during the day, especially below about 2000 m, and become conditionally unstable.
The next report will be published on Tuesday, 7.4.2015.
Source: ARSO