Snow conditions in the mountains 15.3.2017

General avalanche danger level - Wednesday, 15. 3. 2017

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

Main problem: weak layers

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above sea level around 1400 m is MODERATE, level 2, lower down mostly LOW, level 1. Towards noon and in the afternoon, due to the influence of the sun on sun-exposed slopes, the snow cover becomes wet and therefore the top layer becomes somewhat unstable. Especially dangerous are steep slopes and places with wind-drifted snow on all sides of ridges. On wind-exposed places, the snow cover is locally hard and partially icy, so there is a risk of slips there.



Snow conditions

Mostly sunny weather continues. Yesterday the freezing level was at sea level around 1900 m, today it will be a bit higher. The snow cover is mostly crusted or frozen and hard, but in the gullies of the high mountains the snow is still soft in places. On wind-exposed locations it is strongly drifted, sometimes relatively hard due to the wind. During the day, on sunlit locations, the snow softens.



Forecast weather development

Sunny weather will prevail, with somewhat more cloudiness occasionally especially in the eastern part of our mountains. The freezing level will be at sea level around 2300 m. In the high mountains, a moderate wind from northern directions will occasionally blow.



Trend in snow conditions

During the day, the snow will melt except in shady locations in the high mountains, and freeze at night. The crust will strengthen, in the gullies of the high mountains the snow may still remain soft. In the morning and early afternoon hours, the snow cover will be hard and partially icy in many places, so there is also a risk of slips. The snow cover will be relatively stable, only at midday and in the afternoon on sun-exposed slopes, and in shady locations in the high mountains, especially at places with wind-drifted snow, potentially somewhat unstable. You can trigger a snow slab avalanche at these places with greater additional load on the snow cover.



Next issue: Friday, 17. 3. 2017



Source: ARSO