9.02.2018
General danger level - Friday, 9.2.2018
Danger is 3rd degree on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: wind-blown 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. Steep slopes and areas with wind-blown snow are particularly dangerous, where you can trigger an avalanche with minor loading. Spontaneous release is less likely, with possible sunny weather some avalanche or cornice failure may occur especially on steep southern slopes.
Snow conditions
The snow cover is mostly soft and powdery, only in some more wind-exposed locations the snow is somewhat harder, denser or crusted. There are many wind slabs and cornices. Wind-exposed locations are scoured to the old base or to bare ground in places, where the base can be hard and icy. There is quite a lot of snow, movement is therefore quite difficult.
Forecast weather development
Today cloudy and foggy in many places, only occasionally in the high mountains of the central and eastern parts of our mountains the clouds may break. Occasional light snowfall possible in the west. Mostly light southwesterly wind. Temperatures below zero. Tomorrow mostly cloudy, only in high mountains above around 2000 m sunny. Cloud tops will vary somewhat. Light to moderate northeasterly wind. Temperatures below zero tomorrow as well. On Sunday initially still moderately to mostly cloudy, in high mountains quite clear. During the day clouds in lower layers will mostly dissipate. Initially light northeasterly wind, turning northwesterly during the day. Monday cloudy, occasional light snow in places.
Tendency of snow conditions
The snow cover will continue to settle only slowly. Sun will somewhat influence the transformation and stabilization of the snow cover, on Saturday only in high mountains, on Sunday in most of our mountains. On sun-exposed slopes snow will settle somewhat during the day and freeze at night, forming a thin crust. In late morning and early afternoon the snow cover on these areas will therefore be somewhat less stable than elsewhere. Still under the relatively thick layer of recent snow there is a weak layer along which snow can slide with additional snow cover loading. Spontaneous avalanches are less likely. However, an animal or a detached cornice falling on a sufficiently steep slope can trigger an avalanche. Places with wind-blown snow are particularly dangerous. Avalanche danger will otherwise slowly decrease.
Next issue: Monday, 12.2.2018
Source: ARSO