Snow conditions in the mountains 27.3.2017

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 SMALL, level 1. During the day, due to daily warming and solar radiation especially on sun-facing slopes, it increases to MODERATE, level 2. Especially dangerous are steep slopes and places with wind-packed snow on all sides of ridges. Individual smaller spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible, on steeper slopes at lower elevations basal wet snow avalanches are possible.

Snow conditions

Snow, except in high mountain gullies, is quite well transformed. The snowpack is mostly frozen and hard in the morning, possibly icy. During the day it softens especially on sunny aspects. The snow line rose this afternoon to about 2000 m above sea level. Snowpack depth is very uneven especially in the high mountains, on wind-exposed sites it is bare in places.

Forecast weather development

Until the end of the week, mostly clear and warm weather will continue, only on Thursday temporarily some cloudiness. Tomorrow the snow line will be above our highest peaks, on Wednesday and Thursday it will lower somewhat to between 2200 and 2400 m above sea level.

Trend of snow conditions

The snowpack is relatively stable, but due to high temperatures it becomes somewhat labile during the day especially under solar influence on sunny aspects. At night it freezes and is hard in the morning and possibly icy in places. The snowpack will melt on sun-facing slopes and in mid-mountains, it will also soften during the day in high mountain gullies. No major changes in avalanche conditions are expected until Friday.



Source: ARSO