6.04.2016
AVALANCHE RISK ASSESSMENT
Avalanche danger is LOW, 1st degree, increasing to 3rd DEGREE midday and in the afternoon.
The snowpack is softened due to high temperatures and somewhat less stable. On clear and sufficiently calm nights snow freezes mainly in the high mountains and lower in frost hollows, but softens during the day and avalanche danger increases. Individual south-facing snow slab avalanches can release spontaneously from steep slopes, on steep grassy or leaf-covered slopes basal south-facing snow avalanches are possible. Snow can be triggered by greater additional loading mainly on steeper slopes.
SNOW CONDITIONS and CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK
Fairly sunny and warm weather continues in the mountains, occasionally with mostly multi-layered high cloudiness above the summits. Freezing level is above the highest peaks. In windy weather snow did not freeze even at night, except in sheltered spots in the high mountains. Lower down snow melts quickly, especially on sun-exposed slopes. Considerable snow has already avalanched on avalanche terrain, but not all yet. Especially still quite a bit remains conspicuous.
In the Julian Alps at 2500 m from 230 to about 300 cm of snow, at 1500 m from 100 to about 200 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m from 20 to about 70 cm of snow, less towards the east. Significant snow cover starts at sea level altitude around 1000 m, on sun-exposed slopes above 1200 m.
The snowpack is frozen in the morning mainly in the high mountains and in frost hollows, but softens further during the day. Especially lower in the mid-mountains, snow remains softened even at night.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today partly clear with occasional increased amounts of high layered cloudiness. In the west some clouds may form along ridges. Weak to moderate southwesterly will blow, in the afternoon on Pohorje and in eastern Karawanks southeasterly to southerly wind. There short-lived showers possible.
Tomorrow variably cloudy. In the afternoon individual showers mainly in the Julian Alps area and hills of northern Primorska. Wind mostly easterly directions, only in high mountains moderate southerly wind.
In the night to Friday clouding over and by Friday morning precipitation everywhere. Snow line in the morning at sea level altitude around 1700 m, during the day dropping below 1300 m.
TENDENCY OF SNOW CONDITIONS
The snowpack will settle rapidly and melt in the mid-mountains today and tomorrow. At night higher up and in sheltered spots it will freeze, softening during the day. In the night to Friday rain starts, by morning already snowing in high mountains. New snow will presumably bond well to the base, but rain lower down will considerably soak the snowpack, which will presumably become somewhat more unstable. Today and tomorrow AVALANCHE DANGER FROM MID-MORNING TO LATE AFTERNOON WILL BE HIGHER than the rest of the day.
Next report issued on FRIDAY, 8.4.2016 morning.
Source: ARSO