Snow conditions 14.3.2012

Sunny weather continues. The freezing level rose temporarily yesterday to about 2000 m above sea level. The air was dry, so the snow cover softened during the day only on sun-exposed slopes, while in the shade it remained frozen.

The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust that bears human weight. Not only on wind-packed areas, but also elsewhere the surface is icy. During the day, snow softens on sun-exposed slopes, partly even in the high mountains. Even on shady slopes, the snow cover is mostly crusted or lower even hard.

Significant snow cover extends into valleys mostly up to about 1100 m a.s.l., on south-facing slopes it is dry much higher. At 1500 m a.s.l. in the Julian Alps there is about 50 cm of snow, elsewhere about 30 cm. Above 2000 m in the Julian Alps about 100 cm of snow. Avalanche danger is 1st degree. The snow cover is mostly well transformed, only in places there are still insufficiently bonded layers in depth, on which snow can slab only if the snow cover softens or gets soaked due to sun and high temperature. Therefore, during the day the danger slightly increases on sun-facing slopes. Only sufficiently steep slopes are dangerous, as well as areas with wind-drifted snow in gullies that can release with greater additional load. Especially on wind-packed areas and in shady locations, there is danger of gliding.

Until Friday, mostly clear. Air dry, freezing level at about 2500 m a.s.l. Snow cover will continue to transform and melt lower. In shady areas, it will mostly remain frozen.

New report will be issued on Friday, 16.3.2012.



General avalanche danger is 1st degree on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO