Snow conditions 8. 1. 2025

General danger level - Wednesday, 8. 1. 2025
Danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: wind slab, new snow
Danger pattern: Areas of thin snow cover surrounded by areas of deep snow cover
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger in the Julian Alps and in the western Karawanks above about 1900 m elevation is CONSIDERABLE, level 3, elsewhere in the mountains above about 1900 m and lower is MODERATE, level 2 down to about 1400 m above sea level. Lower down there is little snow. There are many slabs, most wind slab near ridges, in gullies, at slope bends. There a slab layer can release with minor loading, and on steep slopes in the high mountains spontaneous dry loose snow avalanches are possible. Below about 1400 m mainly on steep grassy slopes a small surface avalanche of southern snow is possible.

Snow conditions
In the last 24 hours 10 to about 100 cm snow fell in the high mountains, below about 1500 m above sea level it mostly rained, only at the end of precipitation rain turned to snow. Most snow fell in the western and southern Julian Alps above about 1900 m elevation, least in the eastern part of our mountains. The snow surface due to strong southwest wind is reshaped, many slabs and drifts. Snow is soft, below about 1500 m it can also be refrozen. On wind-exposed sites heavily wind-packed, even to bare ground, there the ground can be icy.

Forecast weather development
Today, Wednesday, partly clear, but gradually clouding over during the day, first in western and southern Julian Alps and foothills, afternoon also elsewhere, on peaks and slopes it will become foggy. Until evening no significant precipitation, just a little in the west. Southwest wind strengthening, very strong in high mountains. Evening and night precipitation on area of western and southern Julian Alps and foothills will intensify and tomorrow spread eastwards. Snow line at about 1600 m elevation, occasionally and further east possibly higher. In eastern part of mountains much less precipitation than in west. Strong, in high mountains very strong southwest wind blowing. In evening precipitation weakening and occurring mainly in western Slovenia, in night to Friday with passage of cold front from north temporarily again spreading over all Slovenia and rapidly ceasing by morning. Cooling, snow line will drop at least to about 500 m, possibly lower. Friday partly clearing. End of week dry and cold weather, zero isotherm presumably below 800 m above sea level.

Tendency of snow conditions
Today southwest wind will transport snow and form new drifts. Tonight and tomorrow in Julian Alps and western and central Karawanks until night 20 to 50 cm snow will fall, which southwest wind will transport into drifts, new slabs forming. Further east snow 10 to about 20 cm. Snow line somewhat higher than on Tuesday, thus snow dry above about 1900 m, lower wet, occasionally also rain possible. Therefore lower snow will settle faster, overall new snow will bond well with old base and under new snow no pronounced weak layers. Due to new snow and windy weather avalanche danger in high mountains will remain CONSIDERABLE, level 3, lower MODERATE, level 2. Night to Friday up to max 10 cm snow. With Friday cooling below about 1700 m above sea level snow cover will freeze and somewhat stabilize, higher no major change. Snow will remain soft and light and only slowly settle and transform. Mostly weak northeast wind blowing, which will transport snow but no major new snow accumulations expected. North wind will strengthen on Sunday and then slabs forming mainly on south slopes and ridge sides.

Next issue: Friday, 10. 1. 2025

Source: ARSO