Snow conditions in the area of the Municipality of Tržič 17.1.2023

The general avalanche danger in the Municipality of Tržič area above 1400 m is level 3, below 1400 m level 2 on the five-level European scale.

The snow that fell yesterday has settled only slightly. The wind has mainly redistributed it in the high mountains, forming new wind slabs and soft slabs. There are many weak layers in the snowpack that are poorly bonded to each other. Dry loose snow avalanches have released spontaneously from sufficiently steep slopes (>35°).
Last night, 10 to 15 cm of snow fell at 1500 m, slightly more at higher elevations. In the high mountains above 1800 m, snowfall was accompanied by strong SW wind, which again transported snow and formed new soft slab areas, wind slabs, and cornices. Soft slabs have formed under ridges on leeward sides. The snowpack is very unstable in these areas!!!

Today at 1500 m around midday it will be about -4°C. Weak S to SW wind will blow. At 2000 m it will be about -7°C, SW wind will be slightly stronger. In the afternoon, snow will start falling and SW wind will strengthen. Snowfall will stop tomorrow morning, and snow will start falling again on Wednesday night. By Thursday morning, we expect 20 to 40 cm of snow above 1500 m.

Daily snowfall and wind are forming new wind slabs, soft slabs, and cornices. There are huge areas with wind-drifted snow. There are also critical layers in the snowpack that can fail with minimal additional load, triggering dry loose snow avalanches. There is also a lot of wind-drifted snow on north-facing slopes under ridges and in narrow couloirs in the high mountains.
Additional loading of the old snowpack with new snow or soft slab areas may contribute to spontaneous release of medium-sized avalanches, so we advise against visiting the high mountains in the coming days!!!! Locally above 1800 m, the avalanche danger may be HIGH, level 4.

Source: https://www.zvsp.si