Snow conditions in the mountains 22.3.2017

General avalanche danger level - Wednesday, 22. 3. 2017

Danger is level 2 on the European 5-level scale - MODERATE.

Main problem: wet snow, new snow

Danger pattern: Spring situation



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger today above about 1700 m elevation is MODERATE, level 2, lower down mostly LOW, level 1. Mainly dangerous are steep slopes and wind slab areas on all aspects of ridges. Also possible are individual small spontaneous wet snow avalanches; on steeper slopes at lower elevations, wet snow slab avalanches are possible.



Snow conditions

Snow, except in high mountain gullies, is already quite well transformed. The snowpack is frozen today mainly above about 1800 m and in the eastern part of our mountains where the night was clear. Elsewhere it is mostly softened and wet. Snow depth is especially uneven in the high mountains, with bare ground in places on wind-exposed spots. Due to precipitation, snowpack conditions will change today during the day.



Forecast weather development

Today cloudy and foggy. Occasional light precipitation during the day, dry on Pohorje and in eastern Karawanks. Snow line around 1800 m. Higher up, 5 to 10 cm snow possible by evening, more in Julian Alps, lower down rain will further moisten the snow. Southwest wind. Tomorrow partly clear with variable cloudiness in the eastern part of our mountains, elsewhere variable to mostly cloudy. Occasional light local precipitation with snow line around 1900 m above sea level. Freezing level between 1500 and 2700 m above sea level. Southwest wind. However, somewhat more sun in places than today. Friday mostly sunny. Weak wind. Freezing level around 2800 m.



Trend of snow conditions

Snowpack is relatively stable, only midday and afternoon somewhat unstable on sun-exposed slopes. Avalanches can be triggered there with greater additional loading; spontaneous wet snow avalanches possible from steep slopes. Today's new snow will bond poorly with the crusty base in high mountains and tomorrow, with slightly higher daytime temperatures and more solar radiation, this snow layer may spontaneously release from steep slopes. However, with little new snow, these will be only small avalanches and slabs. Lower down, where the snowpack is soaked to the ground (partly accelerated by today's rain), individual wet snow slab avalanches possible from steep slopes. On Friday, with relatively sunny weather, the effect of daytime heating will be greater, so the snowpack will destabilize further during the day especially on sun-exposed slopes.



Next issue: Friday, 24. 3. 2017



Source: ARSO