Snow conditions in the mountains 20.1.2017

General danger level - Friday, 20 January 2017

Danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: wind slab

Danger pattern: Cold weather, poorly bonded fresh snow with wind



Risk assessment

The avalanche danger is MODERATE, level 2, in most of our mountains above about 1300 m elevation, and in the eastern part of our mountains above about 1700 m. No spontaneous avalanches are expected, but we may trigger an avalanche with significant additional load on the snowpack, ESPECIALLY in areas with wind slab and on steeper slopes, especially those where snow fell on grassy or leafy ground cover. Lower down, and everywhere where snow fell on bare ground, the danger is LOW, level 1.



Snow conditions

No significant precipitation in the hills anymore. Strengthened winds from the east have transported snow into drifts. Temperature was below zero. Snow is mostly soft in sheltered areas, but hard in places exposed to wind. Wind-exposed slopes are also heavily scoured, with a lot of bare ground.



Forecast weather development

Dry and mostly clear weather will continue. It will gradually warm up at higher elevations. On the west, the zero isotherm will rise to about 1000 m already on Saturday, and on Sunday there will be a temperature reversal in most of Slovenia, with the zero isotherm around 1700 m. Wind will be relatively weak. On Sunday it will turn southwest, but will probably be too weak to form new drifts.



Trend in snow conditions

Initially, due to low temperatures, the snow will remain poorly transformed. From Saturday and Sunday onwards, however, due to warming, the snowpack layers with positive temperatures on sun-exposed slopes will soften during the day and freeze at night. A crust will form. In shady areas, the snow will remain soft and poorly transformed due to dry air. The greater possibility of triggering an avalanche will be mainly on steeper slopes, especially in shady areas at locations with wind slab. And especially in the high mountains and on slopes with grassy ground cover. On sun-exposed slopes, the snowpack will slowly stabilize mainly from Sunday onwards.



Next issue: Monday, 23 January 2017



Source: ARSO