Snow conditions in the mountains 1.2.2017

General avalanche danger level - Wednesday, 1 February 2017

The danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: new snow, wind-blown snow

Danger pattern: Snowfall after a longer period of frost

Danger pattern: Cold weather, fresh snow not bonded with wind



Risk assessment

The avalanche danger is slightly increased especially in the southern and western parts of the Julian Alps due to new snow. Above about 1300 m a.s.l. it is MODERATE, level 2. Spontaneous avalanching is not generally expected, but we can trigger an avalanche with greater load on the snow cover ESPECIALLY in places with wind-blown snow and on steeper slopes. Below 1200 m a.s.l. and elsewhere in our mountains, the danger is mostly LOW, level 1. Below the snow line, there is generally too little snow for significant wet snow avalanches to occur.



Snow conditions

Yesterday and last night above about 1200 m it snowed, lower it rained. Lower down the snow has settled and melted, higher up the southwesterly wind has drifted the new snow into wind slabs. In the southern and western parts of the Julian Alps up to about 25 cm of snow has fallen, elsewhere only 5 to at most 10 cm. The new snow has mostly bonded well to the base, only on sun-exposed slopes the connection is somewhat weaker. The snowpack is mostly soft and in places with new snow powdery. Below the snow line the snow is wet and slushy.



Forecast weather development

Today and tomorrow precipitation will mainly occur in the area of the Julian Alps, a little also in the western Karawanks, elsewhere it will mostly be dry. The snow line will mostly be between 1100 and 1400 m a.s.l. By Friday morning in the southern and western parts of the Julian Alps 10 to about 40 cm of snow may fall. A southwesterly wind will blow.



Trend in snow conditions

Below the snow line the snowpack will continue to settle and melt, higher up it will gradually thicken. The southwesterly wind will form wind slabs on the northern and eastern sides of ridges and saddles. The avalanche danger is expected to increase especially in the southern and western parts of the Julian Alps, elsewhere there will be too little new snow. From steep slopes individual slab avalanches of poorly bonded snow may also release spontaneously. Wind slabs will form, which will be potentially unstable and will release with minor load on the snow cover. Elsewhere in our mountains the danger will be low, slightly increasing in the central part of the Julian Alps.



Next issue: Friday, 3 February 2017



Source: ARSO