Snow conditions 12.2.2016

AVALANCHE RISK ASSESSMENT



Avalanche danger is 3rd degree in most of our mountains above about 1500 m elevation, 1st to 2nd degree in lower elevations and eastern Karawanks, depending on elevation.



On Wednesday daytime another 5 to 15 cm snow fell, yesterday sunny weather. Wind weakened, freezing level at about 1000 m. Snow cover settled slowly, on sun-facing slopes mainly in mid-mountains daytime softened and nighttime refrozen. Spontaneous avalanching already less. Today morning snowing again.





SNOW CONDITIONS and CURRENT STATE OF SNOW COVER



Snow cover mostly still soft and powdery, only in mid-mountains on sun-facing slopes thin crust formed. Many windslabs, on wind-exposed sites snow quite wind-packed.



In Julian Alps and western Karawanks above about 1500 m snow 120 to about 200 cm, at 1000 m from just few cm to about 10 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m 30 to 70 cm snow, higher in Kamnik-Savinja Alps and central Karawanks also over 80 cm. Snow cover starts at quite varying elevations, noteworthy snow amount mostly above about 1000 m, in northeast also lower.





FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Today cloudy with snow, somewhat more pronounced mainly in southern and central Slovenia, so in mountains expected only 5 to max 10 cm snow. Snowing mostly cease afternoon, restart in hills night to Saturday. Tomorrow morning precipitation from west quickly cease and sun appear. Also this time most precipitation in southern Slovenia, in mountains of northern Slovenia mostly up to about 5 cm or little more. Occasionally southwest wind somewhat strengthen, transporting snow into windslabs only on wind-exposed sites. Night to Sunday and Sunday daytime precipitation appear again. Snow level rise, expected at elevation between 900 and 1300 m above sea level. More precipitation in western areas, so by Monday morning in Julians and western Karawanks expect about 20 cm new snow, elsewhere 5 to 10 cm.





SNOW CONDITIONS TENDENCY



Snow cover will settle slowly and transform. Saturday daytime under sun influence on sunny sites daytime soften and nighttime refreeze, thus surface crust forming. In shaded areas snow remain soft and loose. New snow to Monday morning not increase avalanche risk. With base mostly bond well. In elevations below about 1300 m, where Sunday possibly rain, snow somewhat destabilize, but there considerably less snow, and snowed mostly on bare ground, so also no increased risk.



Next report issued MONDAY, 15.2.2016 morning.



Source: ARSO