Snow conditions in the mountains 8.3.2017

General danger level - Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Danger is 3rd degree on the European five-point scale - CONSIDERABLE.

Main problem: wind slab, weak layers

Danger pattern: cooling after warm weather / warming after cold



Risk assessment

Avalanche danger above sea level around 1400 m is CONSIDERABLE, 3rd degree, lower down mostly LOW, 1st degree. The snowpack becomes more unstable on sun-exposed slopes towards noon and in the afternoon due to the influence of the sun. Especially dangerous are steep slopes and places with wind-drifted snow on all sides of ridges. There, slab avalanches can be triggered even with minor loading. On steep slopes, individual spontaneous avalanches are possible, mainly of smaller extent. Due to strong wind, snow is quite wind-packed on exposed locations.



Snow conditions

The upper, newer part of the snowpack has settled considerably and transformed somewhat below sea level around 1500 m, higher up, especially in shady aspects, snow remains poorly transformed and relatively soft. The condition of the snowpack varies considerably, depending not only on altitude and aspect but also on the time of day. The snowpack is mostly covered with a crust that does not bear human weight. During the day, snow melts on sun-exposed aspects, at night it refreezes. In shady high mountain aspects, snow is still mostly soft and dry, on wind-exposed locations it is strongly wind-packed, in places relatively hard due to wind.



Forecast weather development

Today mostly clear. The zero isotherm will rise and by evening be at sea level around 1800 or 1900 m. Tomorrow partly clear with occasional increased cloudiness. Even warmer, zero isotherm will rise to sea level around 2200 or 2300 m. In the night to Friday it will cool slightly. Friday partly clear and windy, strong northerly wind blowing.



Tendency of snow conditions

Snow will continue to transform and settle, especially on sun-exposed aspects, but also in shady mid-mountain aspects. Only in high mountain shady aspects will transformation be slow. During the day the snowpack will melt, at night freeze. THEREFORE THE SNOWPACK WILL BECOME EVEN MORE UNSTABLE DURING THE DAY, at night, when the snow freezes, it will be less unstable. The crust will strengthen. Around midday and in the afternoon, individual wet snow avalanches may release spontaneously from steeper slopes. On Friday it will cool slightly and therefore the snowpack will become somewhat more stable.



Next issue: Saturday, 11 March 2017



Source: ARSO