9.04.2015
The avalanche danger is currently still at level 1.
The snowpack is fairly stable, the top layer of snow on the old, crusty base is somewhat unstable, lower down the old snow is soaked to the ground but frozen.
The risk is low. Only small snow slabs and sloughs can release spontaneously, especially on sun-exposed slopes during midday and afternoon. You can trigger an avalanche on very steep slopes and primarily with significant additional stress.
SNOW CONDITIONS
In the mountains it has been quite sunny and cold in recent days. On Tuesday, warmer but still very dry air began to flow in slowly at higher elevations. The freezing level, which was around 700 m above sea level, rose to about 1500 m above sea level by this morning and will rise further during the day today.
The top layer of snow has transformed only slowly; on sun-exposed slopes in the mid-mountain range it became wet during the day and froze at night. The crust strengthened.
The 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 mostly extends to about 1100 m above sea level, on sun-exposed slopes mostly above about 1400 m.
CURRENT SNOWPACK STATE
The snowpack in higher areas is mostly covered with crust; below about 2000 m and in wind-exposed areas it is mainly hard and sometimes icy, with snow scoured to the old base. During the day, in possible sunny weather, the snow softens slightly on sun-exposed slopes, especially in the mid-mountain range.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today and tomorrow it will be mostly sunny. Warmer air will flow in, the freezing level will rise to about 2500 m above sea level by tomorrow, and a bit higher by Friday morning. Today there will still be a somewhat strong northerly wind, but not in the following days.
TRENDS IN SNOW CONDITIONS
On sun-exposed slopes, the snowpack will soften during the day and become conditionally unstable, not only in the mid-mountain range but also in the high mountains tomorrow. Therefore, during the day, especially on sunny aspects, the avalanche risk will increase to level 2. At night the snow will freeze and become stable again. In the mid-mountain range, the snowpack will slowly become soaked to the ground. In the morning and early afternoon hours, the snow will therefore become harder and icier from day to day, increasing the risk of slips.
The next report will be published on Friday, 10.4.2015.
Source: ARSO