Snow conditions 12.11.2010

Since Wednesday, it has been mostly dry in the mountains. Cloud cover varied. Warmer air arrived and today the freezing level is already around 2900 m. A strong southwesterly wind began blowing, transporting snow into wind slabs in the high mountains. Lower down, snow is melting slowly, above around 2000 m it is hardly melting due to dry air.
In the high mountains of the Julian Alps, there is around 110 cm of snow at 2500 m, up to 25 cm at 1500 m. Elsewhere in our mountains, much less snow, around 20 cm at 1500 m. Lower down, the snow cover diminishes quickly. In the high mountains, snow is still mostly dry, lower down wet.
Avalanche danger above around 2000 m in the Julian Alps is 2nd degree, elsewhere 1st degree.
Wind-loaded areas are particularly dangerous, where with greater additional load you can trigger an avalanche.
Until Monday, the weather will not change much. Mostly cloudy and foggy in the mountains. Some clearing possible in high mountains above 2000 m and in eastern Karawanks and Pohorje. Moderate to strong southwesterly wind. Freezing level above 3000 m. Snow will settle and melt faster in areas with high relative humidity, in high mountains it will remain mostly dry due to dry air. Wind will form new slabs on eastern sides of ridges and passes.
The next report will be issued on Monday, 15 November.

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

Source: ARSO