Snow conditions 9. 2. 2024

General danger level - Friday, 9. 2. 2024
Danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.
Main problem: wet snow, new snow, wind slab
Danger pattern: Loose snow
Danger pattern: Rain

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is MODERATE, level 2. In the high mountains, above about 1900 m, it will snow today; due to larger amounts of new snow, avalanche danger will increase in the afternoon in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks and will be CONSIDERABLE, level 3. Wind will build slabs on northern slopes, there is a risk of spontaneous triggering. Below about 1900 m, due to thawing, small to medium-sized wet snow avalanches are possible.

Snow conditions
In the mid-mountains, the snowpack is softened and melting due to the thaw. In the high mountains, new snow is falling on the old base. Southwest wind is building drifts on northern sides.

Forecast weather development
Today, Friday, cloudy and foggy with precipitation, the most in the Julian Alps, snow line at around 1900 m above sea level. Moderate to strong southwest wind will blow. Temperature at 1500 m around 2 °C, at 2500 m around -3 °C. Tomorrow, Saturday, also cloudy and foggy with precipitation, snow line between 1800 and 2000 m above sea level. Initially moderate to strong southwest wind, during the day the wind will gradually weaken. Temperature at 1500 m around 2 °C, at 2500 m around -3 °C. On Sunday cloudy and rainy, the snow line height will lower during the day. In the afternoon, precipitation will weaken. On Monday cloudy and somewhat cooler, possible snow showers.

Tendency of snow conditions
From Friday to Sunday, more than a meter of snow will likely fall in the high mountains of the Julian Alps, around 80 cm in the area of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Wind will drift the new snow into deposits. Avalanche danger in the high mountains will be CONSIDERABLE, level 3, due to new snow on Saturday and Sunday. The main problems will be new snow and wind slab. Below about 1900 m, due to rain, the stability of the upper layers of the snowpack will decrease; they will slide primarily on steep and grassy slopes as avalanches of wet bonded and also unbonded snow.

Next publication: Monday, 12. 2. 2024

Source: ARSO