Snow conditions 12.12.2014

Initially it was cold with temperatures below zero, then it started to warm up in the higher elevations and a temperature inversion formed.

Today the snow line is at around 1900 m elevation. Thus, overnight frost occurred mainly in frost hollows, high mountains, and hills, although the snow cover in the hills froze even at elevations with temperatures above zero, as the air was dry. During the day, it sintered there and a crust strengthened. In gullies, the snow remained poorly transformed.

At 2500 m elevation there is snow in the Julian Alps up to about 120 cm, at 1500 m about 20 cm. Elsewhere there is less snow, but we do not have exact data. Significant snow cover is in the Julians, especially in gullies, mostly above about 1200 m, elsewhere mostly above 1600 m.

There is relatively little snow in the mountains. The snowpack condition is quite variable. Crust predominates, which in places even supports human weight.

There is some wind-blown snow and also dry, soft snow. On wind-exposed slopes, the snow is quite scoured.

Avalanche danger is mostly level 1, only in the high mountains where there is more snow, level 2.

The snowpack is mostly stable and bonded. In places with more snow, it is somewhat less stable. An avalanche can only be triggered on steeper slopes in the high mountains, especially at spots with wind-blown snow and with high load on the snowpack.



Today there will still be sunny weather. The snow will slowly settle and transform. A southwesterly wind will start blowing, stronger tomorrow and on Sunday. Already overnight into Saturday it will become cloudy, but some clear skies will remain in the eastern part of our mountains. On Saturday and Sunday there will be occasional precipitation mainly in the hills of Notranjska and northern Primorska, in the Julian Alps, and locally in the western Karawanks. The snow line will gradually rise to around 1400 m elevation. By Monday morning, above this elevation in the western and central Julians, about 10 or 15 cm of snow will fall, which the southwesterly wind will blow into drifts. Further east it will mostly be dry. Due to higher air humidity and cloudiness, the snowpack will settle somewhat and transform. The new snow will not increase the avalanche risk.

The next report will be published on Monday, 15.12.2014 in the afternoon.



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



Source: ARSO