Snow conditions in the mountains 28.4.2017

General avalanche danger level - Friday, 28.4.2017

Danger level 3 on the European 5-level scale - CONSIDERABLE.

Main problem: new snow

Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger is in the high mountains, above approx. 1800 m, CONSIDERABLE, level 3, lower down LOW, level 1. Due to the abundance of new snow, the danger has increased most in the Julian Alps, least in the eastern Karawanks. Numerous small and medium-sized and occasional large avalanches of new, unbonded snow may release spontaneously, and you can trigger an avalanche with minor loading of the snowpack.



Snow conditions

There have been precipitations in the mountains in recent days. The heaviest were in the Julian Alps, especially in the western and southern parts, then in the western and central Karawanks and in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the least in the eastern Karawanks. In total, 1 to 2 m of snow has fallen in the Julian Alps, less below approx. 2200 m. Elsewhere, there is considerably less new snow, partly due to lower summits. The new snow is light and unbonded. Strong southwesterlies have transported snow into windslabs forming on northern and eastern sides of ridges and saddles. Below approx. 2200 m it has mostly been raining, only today the snowline is lowering.



Forecast weather development

Today, precipitations will subside from the west, only occasionally occurring in the northwest. The snowline will be between 1000 and 1300 m. Weak to moderate southwesterlies will blow. Tomorrow sunny, in the afternoon partly cloudy with local showers, above approx. 1300 m snowy. Weak to moderate northeasterlies will blow, transporting snow onto western slopes. 0°C will be at approx. 1800 m. On Sunday sunny with occasional increased cloudiness. The freezing level will rise to approx. 2500 m. On Monday initially partly clear, becoming cloudy during the day. In the evening first precipitations in the Soča region, which will intensify slightly overnight to Tuesday and spread eastward. The snowline will drop to approx. 1100 m. Presumably 5 to 20 cm of snow may fall, again most in the northwest. On Tuesday mostly cloudy, no significant precipitations anymore. 0°C at approx. 2000 m.



Trend in snow conditions

The snowpack will slowly settle and transform. From steeper slopes, avalanches of new, unbonded snow will still release spontaneously. On Saturday, Sunday and partly Monday, the sun will additionally accelerate settling, but also destabilization of the snowpack. Gradually, the snow will somewhat stabilize at the beginning of the week, avalanche danger will slowly decrease, partly due to cloudy and slightly cooler weather. Precipitations overnight to Tuesday will not be so abundant as to significantly change the avalanche conditions.



Next bulletin: Monday, 1.5.2017



Source: ARSO