Snow conditions 13.4.2012
13.04.2012
On Wednesday afternoon and during the night to Thursday, it snowed in the mountains.
The snow line was initially above 1200 m, and with the passage of the cold front it dropped to around 900 m in some places. 5 to about 20 cm of snow fell. The heaviest precipitation was in the Julian Alps area and the western Karawanks. Lower down, where it rained, the snow cover became even more saturated. In the high mountains, ahead of the front, a strong southwest wind blew, transporting the new snow into drifts. The new snow bonded well with the base, but unstable layers remained deeper.
The consolidated snow cover extends to about 1200 m above sea level, in some places even lower, but there is little snow. The surface snow is soft, in places covered with a thin crust. On wind-exposed locations, the snow is quite wind-packed. In total, at 1500 m above sea level there is 10 to 20 cm of snow, at 2500 m in the Julian Alps up to 150 cm.
Avalanche danger is mainly in the Julian Alps above about 2000 m at 3rd degree, elsewhere in the high mountains 2nd degree, and lower down 1st degree. Steep slopes are particularly dangerous, where even some spontaneous avalanche of new snow can be triggered.
Today it will be mostly cloudy, with minor precipitation in places that will not affect avalanche conditions. The snow line will be at about 1300 m above sea level. Freezing level will be between 1800 and 1900 m.
Saturday and Sunday will also be cloudy and especially foggy in the high mountains. Occasional minor precipitation.
The snow line and freezing level height will not change much. On Saturday a somewhat strong northeast wind will blow, transporting snow into drifts. Avalanche conditions will not change much. The snow cover in the high mountains will settle and transform only slowly due to cloudiness and low temperatures.
New report will be issued on Monday, 16.4.2012.
General avalanche danger is 3rd degree on the European five-degree scale.
Source: ARSO