Snow conditions in the mountains 20.3.2017

General danger level - Monday, 20. 3. 2017

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

Main problem: wet snow

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is in the morning and partly in the forenoon mostly LOW, level 1. Towards noon and in the afternoon, snow softens due to the sun on sun-exposed slopes and danger increases to MODERATE, level 2. Dangerous are especially steep slopes and places with wind-drifted snow on all sides of ridges. Possible are also individual smaller spontaneous wet snow avalanches, on steeper slopes in lower elevations basal wet snow avalanches are possible. In shady locations, and also elsewhere in the morning hours, the snow cover is mostly hard and partly icy, therefore risk of slips.



Snow conditions

At the end of the week there was quite cloudy weather, so the sun did not have much influence on the snow cover. At night the snow also froze less than in clear weather. The freezing level was in the past days mostly above around 2400 m above sea level. The snow cover overnight and in the morning is mostly crusty or frozen and hard. During the day on sun-exposed slopes the snow softens, there the snow cover is sometimes soaked to the ground. In shady high mountain areas the snow remains hard or frozen. The height of the snow cover is very uneven. On wind-exposed locations the snow is heavily drifted.



Forecast weather development

Today sunny, more cloudy and partly foggy especially in the western and southern parts of the Julian Alps. Southwest wind will blow. Tomorrow mostly cloudy, some clear skies in the eastern Karawanks and in the eastern part of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Tomorrow also southwest wind, only in the morning and partly forenoon easterly or southeasterly in the east. Slightly cooler than today. On Wednesday mostly cloudy and also foggy. In the larger part of our mountains minor precipitation will occur, only in the eastern Karawanks dry. Snowfall line between 1700 and 1900 m above sea level. Southwest wind will still blow.



Tendency of snow conditions

The snow cover is relatively stable, only midday and afternoon on south-facing slopes it becomes somewhat labile. You can trigger some snow avalanche at these places with greater additional load on the snow cover, from steep slopes a wet snow avalanche can also release spontaneously. Avalanche conditions will not change much until midweek, only on Tuesday due to more cloudy weather the snow cover will also remain softer in the morning and therefore less stable.



Next issue: Wednesday, 22. 3. 2017



Source: ARSO