9.03.2015
Avalanche danger is mostly level 2; lower down, mostly below the forest line, level 1.
You can only trigger an avalanche with greater load on the snow cover, especially on steeper slopes and in areas with wind-blown snow; south-facing slopes are also more unstable in the middle of the day and early afternoon.
The risk is still mainly due to wind-blown snow and on north-facing slopes due to poor bonding between the old, crusted and partly icy base and the upper layer of newer snow; on south-facing slopes, due to daily warming, the snow cover becomes somewhat unstable in places with wind-blown snow.
SNOW CONDITIONS
In the mountains, there was sunny weather with temperatures below zero, dry air. A moderate wind was blowing, on Saturday initially still strong north to east wind, but no new major drifts. The snow cover only softened on south-facing slopes during the day and froze at night, the crust strengthened. In shady areas, the snow remained frozen and dry. The snow cover stabilized somewhat, especially on south-facing slopes.
The snow depth is quite uneven due to frequent windy weather. At 2500 m above sea level in the Julian Alps there is snow up to about 200 cm, at 1500 m up to about 110 cm, at 1000 m from 10 to about 40 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains there is somewhat less snow.
Significant snow cover extends mostly up to about 1000 m above sea level, in valleys and north-facing slopes even lower.
CURRENT SNOW COVER STATUS
The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust that partly supports human weight. During the day, snow softens on south-facing slopes. In north-facing high mountain areas, the snow is soft, especially in more sheltered areas, or covered with a wind-formed crust. There are many drifts and slabs that are still partly unstable. Ridges and wind-exposed areas are quite scoured and therefore hard and icy in places, even bare.
FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT
Today and tomorrow it will be mostly clear. The freezing level will gradually rise to about 2000 m above sea level. But the air will remain relatively dry, so snow in shady areas will mostly remain frozen or dry. On sun-exposed areas it will soften during the day and freeze at night. A light to moderate wind from easterly directions will blow.
SNOW CONDITION TREND
Avalanche danger will not change in most of our mountains. Due to daily warming and nightly freezing, the snow cover on south-facing slopes will slowly stabilize, while avalanche conditions in north-facing areas will remain largely unchanged until midweek. Especially on wind-exposed areas there is a risk of gliding.
No spontaneous avalanching is expected.
The next report will be published on Wednesday, 11.3.2015 in the afternoon.
Source: ARSO