Almost 3 metres of snow in the high mountains already 3.12.2010

Since Wednesday morning, it has been snowing occasionally in the mountains. 25 to 50 cm of snow has fallen, the least in the eastern part of our mountains. Due to the low temperature, the new snow was dry. Wind only created drifts in exposed areas. During snowfall, small to medium-sized dry snow avalanches released from steeper slopes.

In the Julian Alps, there is currently up to about 290 cm of snow at 2500 m, and up to about 160 cm at 1500 m. Elsewhere in our mountains, there is about 95 cm at 1500 m. At 1000 m elevation, snow depth is 50 to 80 cm. The snowpack is soft and loose and sinks deeply under human weight. Only in wind-exposed areas has a thin crust formed that does not support a person. Due to stronger winds in recent days, quite a few wind slabs have formed, mostly hidden under new snow.

Avalanche danger is 3rd degree, 2nd degree in the eastern Karawanks below about 1500 m elevation. You can easily trigger an avalanche with additional load, especially in areas with wind-drifted snow and on steeper slopes. Spontaneous release of small to medium-sized loose snow avalanches and also wind slab avalanches is expected from steeper slopes.

Today and tomorrow, light snow will continue occasionally. 5 to 10 cm of snow may fall, more only in the western part of the Julian Alps and western Karawanks. It will be cold, so the snowpack will not transform much, only settle slowly. Today and tomorrow, weak to moderate easterly winds will blow. On Sunday, it will warm up in the heights. A strong southwesterly wind will blow, transporting snow into drifts and building cornices. The snow line will rise above 1000 m in the eastern part of our mountains, elsewhere still below 700 m. By Monday morning, the snowpack will have settled somewhat more.

Smaller precipitation will start to appear in the west. The snow line will gradually rise above about 700 m. With the warming on Monday, avalanche danger will temporarily increase.

The next report will be issued on Monday, December 6.



General avalanche danger is considerable, i.e., 3rd degree on the European five-degree scale.



Source: ARSO