Snowdrift accumulations can still be prone to disruption in some cases
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2400 metres and low below that. In the higher altitudes, small to maximum medium-sized snow slabs can still be triggered in a few places by low additional loads in the wind slab. The frequency and extent of the danger zones increase slightly with altitude. The danger zones are located adjacent to the ridgeline and also behind terrain edges far from the ridge as well as in steep gullies and bowls. In shady slopes at high and high alpine altitudes, small to medium-sized avalanches in persistent weak layers are still possible in isolated cases.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is highly variable and below average. Fresh and older, brittle wind slabs lie on a crusted can form surface. Underneath are layers of faceted crystals, deep rime and melt-freeze crusts. The potential for fracture propagation is generally low, but in isolated places, especially on the shady slope, a prone-to-triggering combination of weak layer and snow slab cannot be ruled out.
Tendency
No significant change on Thursday, but freshening north-westerly winds may deposit fresh wind slab on a small scale.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Older wind slabs are prone to triggering in places.
The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below it. Older wind slab can occasionally be triggered as a small or medium slab avalanche by a small additional load. Avalanche prone locations are located adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit in steep terrain in northern and eastern aspects as well as in gullies and bowls. The number and extent of avalanche prone locations increase with altitude. In addition to the risk of burial, the risk of being swept away and falling must be taken into account.
Snowpack
Older wind slabs are sometimes prone to triggering on surface hoar. Snowdrift accumulations and obstacles are often covered by a thin layer of soft snow and are therefore difficult to recognise. Below the old melt-freeze crust, faceted crystals can often be found right down to the ground, especially at higher altitudes. On the south side, there is no sufficient base for winter sports up to the high altitudes.
Tendency
With stronger winds and some new fallen snow, the wind slab problem will increase from Wednesday evening.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind and snowfall increase the danger of avalanches.
Places with blowing snow are particularly dangerous, as even a small load can trigger a small to medium-sized avalanche. Places where fresh snow has fallen on hard and icy ground are particularly dangerous.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
It started snowing today, with about 10 cm of light snow falling, carried by a strong northeasterly wind in exposed areas. New fallen snow has fallen on hard and icy ground and is therefore quite unstable. Particularly in places with blown snow, there is a greater danger of triggering an avalanche of packed snow.
Tendency
Snow will continue overnight, with 5 to 10 cm of light and fluffy snow expected, least in the western Julian Mountains and the western Karavanke Mountains. Wind will carry snow in exposed positions.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
More amount of new snow with wind.
The new light snow has not adhered well to the old snow base. In moderate to strong north-easterly winds, slush is forming. Above the forest line in the Snežnik area, a snow avalanche can be triggered even at low loads. Spontaneous avalanches are also possible.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
When it snows, the snowpack increases rapidly. Between 30 and 40 cm of light, dry snow fell on hard ground above about 1300 m. At the same time, moderate to strong winds are blowing, carrying the snow and building drifts and drifts. The snowpack is markedly uneven. There is a lot of blowing snow, especially on the leeward slopes.
Tendency
Snow will weaken overnight and taper off during the day on Wednesday. An additional 10 to 20 cm of light snow may fall. Moderate to strong north-easterly winds will continue to blow, carrying snow and building drifts and drifts. Places with blowing snow will be dangerous.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Beware of prone to triggering snowdrift accumulations
The avalanche risk is low. Nevertheless, there are isolated danger spots at higher altitudes in the form of snowdrift accumulations, which can be triggered in places by a small additional load as a small snow slab. They are located especially in areas adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit as well as in gullies and bowls that have been blown in. If visibility is good enough, the danger zones are usually easy to recognise. The risk of being swept away and falling is greater than the risk of burial.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is characterised by strong winds. Hardness, blown-off areas alternate with older and fresh snowdrift accumulations in a confined space. Graupel often intersperses the snow cover. Weak layers for slab avalanches are preserved by the cold temperatures and are located in the drift snow packs themselves or at the transition to the crusted old snowpack. The snow depth is still well below average at all altitudes.
Tendency
Thursday will be cloudy and windy, with a few snowflakes falling in the morning. On Friday, a warm front will temporarily bring significant warming with snow and rain showers and strong west to north-westerly winds. No significant change in the avalanche situation until Friday for the time being.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
More amount of new snow with wind.
The new light snow has not adhered well to the old snow base. In moderate to strong north-easterly winds, slush is forming.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
When it snows, the snowpack slowly increases. Between 20 and 40 cm of light, dry snow has fallen. At the same time, a moderate wind is blowing, which carries the snow and builds drifts and drifts. The snowpack is highly uneven. There is a lot of blowing snow, especially on the leeward slopes.
Tendency
There will be light to moderate snow at times. Snow will weaken overnight on Wednesday and taper off by Wednesday evening. A further 10 to 20 cm of light snow may fall.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Risk of snagging and falling due to small snowdrift accumulations.
The avalanche danger is low. Snowdrift accumulations in steep, blown-in areas can occasionally be triggered as a small slab by a small additional load.
Snowpack
Small, older snowdrift accumulations lie on surface hoar in some places. Below the melt-freeze crust near the surface, faceted crystals can be found at higher elevations down to the ground. There is little snow on the south side.
Tendency
With stronger winds and new fallen snow, the wind slab problem will increase from Wednesday evening.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Isolated snowdrift accumulations still prone to triggering!
The avalanche risk is assessed as low. The cold preserves the snowdrift accumulations. The snowdrift accumulations above around 2000 m are still prone to disruption and are mainly located in gullies and bowls that have been blown in as well as behind broad ridges and ridgelines with a northern or eastern aspect. In a few places, the wind slab can be triggered by individuals as a small slab avalanche. However, the avalanche prone locations are easily recognisable. In addition to the risk of burial in terrain traps, the risk of being swept away and falling must also be taken into account.
Snowpack
The snowdrift accumulations that have formed due to the strong to stormy winds of the last few days remain prone to triggering. These often lie on angular shapes, surface hoar or a hardness of old snowpack. The snow surface is hard or icy on sunny slopes and windward terrain. In shady slope terrain, the kinetic metamorphism weakens the snow cover, snowpack.
Tendency
There will be no significant change in the snow and avalanche situation in the coming days.
On Thursday, the north-westerly winds will be strong to stormy and it will start to snow lightly in the northern foothills. New snowdrift accumulations will form.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Few avalanche prone locations in the high altitudes!
The avalanche risk is predominantly low. Attention should be paid to localised avalanche prone locations in the steep terrain adjacent to the ridgeline, as well as in filled-in bowls and gullies. Here, only small slab avalanches could be triggered in a few places in the terrain by low additional loads. Avalanche prone locations are easy to recognise and should be avoided.
Snowpack
Due to the very cold temperatures, older snowdrift accumulations are still present at high altitudes. They may contain thin intermediate layers and often lie on angular forms or on a hardness of old snowpack. The thin snow base, fundament is weakened by the kinetic metamorphism. The snow depths are very below average even at high altitudes.
Tendency
On Thursday there will be some fresh wind slab due to a little new fallen snow and wind.
Danger level
Low avalanche danger
The avalanche danger is low, isolated danger areas due to older snowdrift accumulations can still be found behind the edges of the terrain adjacent to the ridgeline and in gullies and bowls that have been blown in. Drift snow areas are small and easily recognisable, but danger areas due to stones under the thin snow cover, snowpack are often not.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is very variable. In shady slopes, weak layers of faceted crystals are possible in the vicinity of crusts. Away from this, there is a succession of thin layers of new and drift snow on the meadows.
Tendency
No change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2400m
Wind slabs and stones are the main danger.
The avalanche risk is low. At high altitudes, small snow slabs can still be triggered in a few places in the wind slab. Be careful in the area of terrain traps, where enough snow could accumulate to bury people. Avalanche prone locations behind area adjacent to the ridgeline, crests or summits and in gullies and bowls are usually easily recognisable, but danger areas due to stones under the thin snow cover are often not.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is highly variable. Wind slabs lie on a crusted can form surface of old snow. Underneath are layers of faceted crystals, deep frost and melt-freeze crusts. However, the potential for fracture propagation is generally low. On the sunny slopes, the snow cover, snowpack is hard and crusted can form, or the subsoil is only thinly covered. The snow depth is still well below average at all altitudes.
Tendency
No significant change on Thursday, but freshening north-westerly winds may deposit fresh wind slab on a small scale.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Caution: small-sized snowdrift accumulations
Avalanche danger is low. Local snowdrift accumulations can be triggered in places as small-sized slab avalanches. Danger zones occur especially near ridgelines in wind-loaded gullies and bowls as well as in extremely steep terrain. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall requires caution.
Snowpack
On shady slopes, older small-sized snowdrift accumulations often lie deposited on top of an unfavorable old snowpack surface. The shallow snowpack is often expansively metamorphosed, at low and intermediate altitudes they are melt-freeze encrusted. Snow depths at all altitudes continue to be significantly below-average. Only limited information is currently available from backcountry to the Avalanche Warning Services.
Tendency
As a result of fresh snowfall and strong-velocity winds, avalanche danger will increase significantly on Thursday and over the following days.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Small-sized snowdrifts, weak persistent layers prone to triggering in places
Isolated small slab avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading in the snowdrifts. Danger zones occur especially near to ridgelines on shady W-N-E facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. In addition, isolated avalanches can be releases in high alpine regions on very steep shady slopes in the weak old snow. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and being forced to take a fall also require caution.
Snowpack
With ascending altitude, small snowdrift accumulations have been deposited primarily on shady slopes on top of an unfavorable old snowpack surface. They are often expansively metamorphosed, at low and intermediate altitudes they are melt-freeze encrusted. On shady slopes in high alpine regions, isolated weak layers occur inside the old snowpack. Snow depths at all altitudes continue to be significantly below-average. Only limited information is currently available from backcountry to the Avalanche Warning Services.
Tendency
As a result of fresh snowfall and strong-velocity winds, avalanche danger will increase significantly on Thursday and over the following days.
