Great danger of slips in the mountains 13.12.2010

At the end of the week, it has cooled down considerably. The snowpack has frozen and hardened. Above about 2300 m, the snow remained dry and light from before. Over time, a thin crust has formed. On Friday and Saturday, it snowed lightly from time to time and up to about 15 cm of dry snow fell.

In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is currently up to about 320 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 100 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m there is up to about 30 cm of snow. At 1000 m altitude, it is bare in many places, elsewhere there is up to about 20 cm of snow. The snowpack is frozen, on the crust there is up to 15 cm of fresh snow, which is completely wind-blown in many places. The crust mostly does not hold human weight. In leeward positions above 2300 m, the snow has remained softer in places.

The avalanche danger is 2nd degree in the high mountains, lower down 1st degree. In the high mountains, smaller avalanches of partially bonded snow can be triggered on steeper slopes and in places with drifted snow under additional load. Lower down, the snowpack will be stable. Locally, there is a risk of slips due to the icy snowpack.

Dry and cold weather will continue. A moderate, occasionally strong northerly wind will blow, but it will no longer create major drifts. The snowpack will remain mostly stable. The surface crust will strengthen. The risk of slips will increase due to the hard and partially icy base.

The next report will be issued on Wednesday, 15 December.



General avalanche danger is 2nd degree on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO