The current snowpack pattern is uncommon and requires special attention and caution!
New fallen snow in the high alpine regions, weak layers in the old snow cover.
Thursday night and Friday will see more snow in the mountains, with the snow line decreasing. On Friday, snow will be heavier in the east of the Alps. Spontaneous avalanches will continue to occur in the high alpine regions. We advise against visiting the high alpine regions in the current conditions!
Moderate to strong winds from the north will build up larger snowdrift accumulations on the leeward sides. More dangerous are areas of blowing snow, where a major Avalanche may be triggered. New fallen snow will put additional load on the old snow cover. This may exceed the load-bearing capacity of the deeper Weak layers and trigger a deep and large avalanche. Such weak layers are abundant, especially in the axis above the forest, but are not excluded elsewhere.
In parts of the mid-mountains where it has rained, the rain has wetted the snowpack. Some new fallen snow will fall on top of this blanket as the weather cools.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
The old snow cover is made up of layers of bonded snow that are already somewhat compacted and mostly well connected. Deep below the surface, the old snow cover contains several weak layers of shredded and coarse grains.
This base will receive 50-80 cm of New fallen snow during this snowfall in the High alpine regions. The snow line was mostly between 1200 m and 1500 m on Thursday, and will be decreasing on Friday.
Tendency
Snow conditions will remain challenging in the coming days.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
New snow
New fallen snow
Rain has been falling since Thursday, with rain outside the highest peaks. On Friday night, the precipitation will intensify again, the snow line will drop rapidly and snow will fall to the lowlands.
Snowpack
There is little old snow cover, with snow only on the highest peaks. This snowfall will bring 20-40 cm of new fallen snow, possibly more than 50 cm at the top of Pohorje.
Tendency
The danger of avalanches will remain similar.
Danger level
1200m
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
1200m
New snow
1500m
Increased amount of new snow in the highest parts of the mid-mountains, snowdrift accumulations
New fallen snow on the highest peaks
Precipitation has been falling since Thursday, outside the highest peaks in the form of rain, which has soaked the snowpack. As the snowfall level is high, only the highest peaks will be covered with snow.
Snowpack
The old snow cover is made up of layers of bonded snow that are already somewhat compacted and mostly well connected. A depth hoar has formed at the interface between the snowpack and the ground.
