8.01.2018
General avalanche danger level - Monday, 8. 1. 2018
Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: wind drifted snow, wet snow
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold
Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is above sea level around 1100 m, where there is approximately enough snow, currently mostly MODERATE, level 2. Especially dangerous are steep slopes with wind drifted snow, where with greater loading you can trigger a slab avalanche.
Snow conditions
In the past days it was quite warm in the mountains. Freezing level was at altitude between 2000 and 2500 m. Especially in Julian Alps and foothills there were more precipitations, in Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps only little. Snowfall limit occasionally rose even to altitude 2500 m. In Julians in high mountains less than 10 cm snow fell, elsewhere the amount was negligible. Lower the snow cover compacted and in places with more precipitations got soaked. Snow also settled considerably in high mountains, lower receded. Snow cover is mostly wet and soft, on possible clear nights snow can freeze and is hard in the morning and in high mountains also hard.
Forecast weather development
Today partly clear in high mountains and eastern part of our mountains, elsewhere mostly cloudy and also partly foggy. Precipitations mostly none, except perhaps occasionally in Posočje. Weak to moderate wind from southern directions. Freezing level at altitude around 2200 m. At night precipitations will start to appear in western Slovenia, tomorrow they will spread to central areas, towards evening and night to Wednesday further east. Snowfall limit tomorrow mostly between 1200 and 1600 m. Moderate south to southwest wind. On Wednesday initially cloudy and mostly dry, afternoon clearing in western Julian Alps and western Karawanks. Wind weak. Freezing level at altitude around 1500 m. In continuation mostly dry but relatively cloudy weather, some sunshine possible especially in western Julian Alps and western Karawanks. Gradually a bit colder.
Trend in snow conditions
Snow cover settles quickly and lower also melts. Tomorrow below snow limit it will additionally soak, so wet snow avalanches can spontaneously release from steep slopes. Higher, where it will snow, even more than half a meter of snow can fall. This will fall in high mountains above sea level around 2000 or 2200 m on partly hard base and therefore can also drift. Southwest and south wind will form drifts mainly on northern and eastern sides of ridges and saddles. Avalanche danger will temporarily INCREASE.
Next issue: Thursday, 11. 1. 2018
Source: ARSO