Snow conditions 12.5.2014

After a dry and warm end of the week, it rained and snowed intensively on Sunday evening and during part of the night to Monday as a cold front passed. The snow line dropped below 1000 m in places during heavy precipitation. In the high mountains, 10 to about 25 cm of snow fell, which has bonded relatively well to the compact base, especially in the high mountains. It has cooled down, today the freezing level is around 2000 m above sea level.



Snow lies in the high mountains, and in the gullies especially in the Julian Alps also below around 1200 m, lower and on sun-exposed slopes in higher locations there is some new snow. The new snow is soft, the old base has hardened somewhat due to the cooling.

The avalanche danger has currently increased to level 2 in the high mountains, elsewhere level 1.

The snowpack is stable overall, but in the high mountains, new snow can avalanche from steep slopes where there is still old base. Also when loading the snowpack, caution is needed, as new snow can slide under you.



Today it will be quite sunny at least in the morning, so the new snow will transform quickly, settle and bond to the base. In the afternoon, there will be isolated showers and more clouds. Tomorrow it will be cloudy with occasional precipitation. The snow line will be at elevations between 900 and 1200 m above sea level. Until Wednesday morning, about 10 cm of snow will fall, which should bond well to the base. It will not increase the avalanche risk. It will remain at level 2 in the high mountains.

The next snowpack report will be issued on Wednesday, 14.5.2014 in the morning.



General avalanche danger is level 2 on the European 5-level scale.



Source: ARSO