Mountain Conditions 10.12.2010

In recent days there has been quite warm weather in the mountains with abundant precipitation mainly in the Julian Alps and partly in the western Karawanks. The snowmelt line has risen almost to 2500 m, the snowfall limit to around 2300 m. Lower down, due to rain the snow has greatly settled and melted, above the snowfall limit another up to about 20 cm of snow has fallen since mid-week. On Thursday afternoon the snowfall limit was lowering, but some snow fell mainly on Pohorje and in the eastern Karawanks and in the eastern part of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. The north wind in the high mountains has been transporting snow and depositing it in wind slabs on the southern sides of ridges and passes.

In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is currently around 325 cm of snow, at 1500 m around 90 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m there is around 30 cm of snow. At 1000 m elevation the snow has largely disappeared in places. The snow cover has refrozen. The crust mostly does not yet hold human weight. In the high mountains, above 2300 m, the snow has remained soft and sinks deeply. On wind-exposed spots a wind crust has formed.

The avalanche danger has decreased in the high mountains to level 2, lower down it is level 1. In the high mountains, on steeper slopes and spots with wind-packed snow, partially bonded snow avalanches can be triggered by additional stress. Lower down the snow cover will be stable. In places there will be risk of slipping due to icy crust.

Dry weather will continue. On Saturday warmer but dry air will temporarily arrive, the snowmelt line will rise somewhat above 1500 m.

The warming will not increase avalanche danger. On Sunday during the day it will cool again and next week it will be cold in the mountains.

The next report will be issued on Monday, 13 December.



General avalanche danger is moderate, i.e. level 2 on the European 5-level scale.



Source: ARSO