Snow conditions 14.12.2015

ASSESSMENT OF RISK



Avalanche danger is level 1.



The snowpack is stable.



The risk is low. No spontaneous avalanching.





SNOW CONDITIONS and CURRENT STATE OF THE SNOWPACK



There is very little snow in the mountains. The snowpack is mostly covered with a crust formed by daytime melting and nighttime freezing, only in some gullies is it still dry. In places the snow is also hard and, at least at night and in the morning, frozen. Temperature conditions changed at the end of the week. The freezing level was above the highest peaks on Saturday and Sunday, but by this morning it had dropped to around 1400 m above sea level. The snow has slowly melted.



In the Julian Alps at 2500 m above sea level there is up to about 20 cm of snow, elsewhere in our mountains from 5 to about 10 cm. Significant snowpack is mainly only in the high mountains, and even there more in shady and sheltered locations and on plateaus.



FORECAST WEATHER DEVELOPMENT



Today it will be mostly clear in the high mountains, below around 1900 m cloudy and partly foggy. The cloud top is not at the same height everywhere. The wind will be light. Temperature will be above zero above around 1400 m, but the air will be dry.



Tomorrow partly clear with occasional moderate cloudiness, which will have its base high above the peaks. A light to moderate wind from northern directions will blow. It will warm up again, the freezing level is expected to rise to around 2600 m above sea level, but it will cool slowly again in the afternoon.



On Wednesday there will again be somewhat more cloudiness with the freezing level at around 1500 m above sea level. Dry weather also on Thursday and Friday, when it will warm up again.







TREND OF SNOW CONDITIONS



The snow is mostly already well transformed, only in the gullies of the high mountains less so. Especially in the morning there is a slightly higher possibility of slips due to the partly icy surface. Snow will continue to melt especially on sunny aspects.



Source: ARSO