According to Varsom.no, an orange avalanche warning (significant danger) has been issued for large parts of Nordland on Thursday. The warning applies to Ofoten, Svartisen (south of Bodø), and Helgeland. Most areas in Vestland still have an orange avalanche warning, and over the weekend, the warning was upgraded in several areas from yellow to orange, Varsom.no reports.
In Ofoten, Varsom.no warns that it may be very easy for a skier to trigger small avalanches while the weather persists. The service recommends conservative route choices for the next few days. Large naturally triggered avalanches may occur in the high mountains in some places, and a new wind direction may cause problems with wind-drifted snow in lee slopes. In Helgeland, avalanches may be very easy to trigger at high altitudes. Only in Salten is the avalanche danger moderate, according to Varsom.no.
It may be very easy for a skier to trigger small avalanches while the weather persists. We recommend conservative route choices for the next few days.
In Vestland, areas now at danger level 3 are Indre Fjordane, Jotunheimen, Indre Sogn, Hardanger, and Voss, according to Varsom.no. Fresh wind slabs may be easy to trigger while the weather persists, and naturally triggered avalanches cannot be ruled out during the first part of the day. Where the sun comes out, there may be a danger of naturally triggered avalanches in steep sunny slopes. In lower terrain, the avalanche danger is assessed as lower. Varsom.no also reports that new snow and wind increase avalanche danger and create challenging conditions where most snow has fallen in Trollheimen. On Sunday, the warning was upgraded to orange level, danger level 3 in Trollheimen. Avalanche danger is highest in the Sunndalsfjella mountains, which have received the most new snow.
Varsom.no reports that avalanche danger in Lofoten and Vesterålen has been upgraded from green to yellow level, indicating moderate avalanche danger. In Nordland, only Salten remains at green level for avalanche danger, while Ofoten, Svartisen, and Helgeland are at orange level, and the rest of Nordland is at yellow level.
Be careful in sun-exposed steep slopes, especially in the afternoon. The snow is most stable early in the day.
"It may be very easy for a skier to trigger small avalanches while the weather persists. We recommend conservative route choices for the next few days," Varsom.no said in an official statement. "Be careful in sun-exposed steep slopes, especially in the afternoon. The snow is most stable early in the day," the service added.
Travelers are advised to check updated forecasts before heading into backcountry terrain.