Almost 4 Meters of Snow in the Mountains Already 27.12.2010

On Friday and Saturday it was still lightly snowing, on Sunday mostly dry. 10 to 25 cm of dry snow fell. On Friday morning the snow line dropped below 1500 m, on Saturday even lower. Mostly northerly to northeasterly wind was blowing, creating drifts in the high mountains.

In the Julian Alps there is up to about 390 cm of snow at 2500 m, about 100 cm at 1500 m. Elsewhere in our mountains up to about 40 cm at 1500 m. Considerably less lower down. The snow cover above about 1800 m elevation is soft and loose and sinks deeply. Lower down on a harder, partly icy base, a layer of powder snow from a few to about 20 cm. On wind-exposed sites snow is blown down to the icy base. Avalanche danger in the high mountains is 3rd degree. An avalanche can be triggered by minor additional stress especially on sites with wind-packed snow and on steeper slopes. Lower down, where it rained for a long time during the thaw, the snow cover is more stable, danger is 1st to 2nd degree, depending on the amount of new snow. Especially on wind-scoured sites and at lower elevations there is a risk of slips.

Dry and cold weather will continue. The snow cover will settle only slightly and transform slowly. Northerly and northwesterly winds will create new drifts in the high mountains on the south and east sides of ridges and passes.

The next report will be issued on Wednesday, 29 December.



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



Source: ARSO