Snow conditions 8. 4. 2024

General avalanche danger level - Monday, 8. 4. 2024
Danger is level 3 on the European 5-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: wet snow
Danger pattern: Spring situation

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is MODERATE in the morning, level 2, during the day it increases to CONSIDERABLE, level 3 due to daily thaw. Especially on sun-exposed slopes wet snow avalanches can release spontaneously or under load. The probability of unpredictable release of gliding avalanches and cornice falls remains increased.

Snow conditions
With warm weather, the rapid transformation of the snowpack continues, which is noticeably settling and becoming increasingly moist and wet even in the high mountains. At night a thin crust forms on the surface, which then softens in the morning on pronounced shaded slopes. Shaded mid-mountain slopes are snow-free, snow cover appears above 1800-2000 m, in shaded aspects it reaches up to about 1500 m. Due to the content of desert dust on the surface and in the upper layers, the snow, especially on shaded slopes, softens faster than usual for this time.

Forecast weather development
On Monday and Tuesday very warm weather for the season will continue, zero isotherm above 3500 m, at 2000 m around +10 °C. A southwesterly wind will blow, stronger on Tuesday. Air humidity will gradually increase, so stratocumulus cloudiness will become thicker, but will remain high above the mountain peaks. Visibility will be slightly reduced also due to increased desert dust content in the air. On Wednesday morning a weakened cold front will pass us, light precipitation may occur then, but it will be too little to affect the snowpack. A northeasterly wind will blow, it will cool slightly, zero isotherm at 2500 m. On Thursday during the day it will clear up, it will be warmer again with zero isotherm above 3000 m. Northeasterly wind will still blow.

Trend of snow conditions
With warm weather the snowpack will continue to transform rapidly and settle. At night in the high mountains a crust will form on the snowpack surface, but due to increasing air humidity and cloudiness it will be less pronounced each day. The softening of the snowpack surface during the day will be somewhat faster than usual due to the high content of desert sand compared to pure white snow. Especially on shaded slopes wet snow avalanches can release spontaneously or under load. The probability of unpredictable release of gliding avalanches and cornice falls remains increased.

Next issue: Thursday, 11. 4. 2024

Source: ARSO