7.02.2018
General danger level - Wednesday, 7.2.2018
Danger is 3rd degree on the European five-point scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: new snow, wind drifted snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after frost
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger in mountains above sea level around 1200 m is CONSIDERABLE, 3rd degree. Lower down mostly MODERATE, 2nd degree. The snow that fell during the previous snowfall has settled somewhat. Overnight it snowed again, but there is too little new snow to significantly worsen avalanche conditions. The snowpack is soft and loose. There is a lot of wind-drifted snow and slabs, wind-exposed places are quite scoured. Especially steeper slopes and areas with wind-drifted snow are dangerous, where you can trigger a snow avalanche with minor load. Spontaneous release is less likely, mainly smaller avalanches of dry loose snow from steep slopes are possible.
Snow conditions
The snow that fell at the end of the previous week has already settled somewhat. Until this morning around 10 to 30 cm of dry snow has fallen. It snowed onto a soft base, so the connection between the old snowpack and new snow is relatively good, there is no intermediate weak layer. But since the new snow is dry, it can release or slab off steep slopes. There is quite a lot of snow, movement is therefore quite difficult.
Forecast weather development
Today cloudy and foggy, snowfall will stop in the morning. Weak to moderate wind mostly south to east. Tomorrow mostly cloudy, during the day clouds will temporarily break. Temperature below zero. Weak northerly wind blowing, somewhat more pronounced on Pohorje and in eastern Karawanks. On Friday cloudy and foggy and mostly dry. Higher peaks might look above the cloud layer. Similar on Saturday, on Sunday mostly clear.
Tendency of snow conditions
The snowpack will settle slowly. Until Sunday there will be very little or no sun, so it will not affect the transformation of the snowpack. Snow will remain dry and soft, temperature will be below zero all the time. No stronger wind. Avalanche danger will remain 3rd degree. Be careful when visiting the mountains!
Next issue: Friday, 9.2.2018
Source: ARSO