Snow conditions 18.4.2014

Dry weather prevailed. On Wednesday it was cold, on Thursday it warmed up somewhat and the snow line rose to around 1900 m. In the high mountains, the snowpack situation hardly changed, lower down the snow softened during the day and froze at night.



Significant snow cover extends on sun-facing slopes to around 1500 m, in shady areas to around 1000 m. Above around 2000 m there is snow in the Julian Alps from around 400 cm to over 500 cm, at 1500 m from 180 to under 300 cm.

Elsewhere at 1500 m snow is mostly only on plateaus and in gullies.

The snowpack is mostly well transformed and frozen due to cooling. During the day, under the influence of possible sunshine, snow softens mainly in the mid-mountains.

Avalanche danger is level 1.

The snowpack is stable, the chance of triggering an avalanche is currently low. Due to dry air, snow in mid-mountain gullies does not soften during the day either. The snowpack surface is also hard and icy in places, hence risk of slipping.



Today mostly clear with cumulus cloudiness, which in the afternoon in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks will become increasingly dense. Minor precipitation possible at night, tomorrow occasional light precipitation. Snow line around 1900 m. On the night to Sunday precipitation will temporarily intensify and weaken on Sunday morning. Up to Sunday morning 10 to 20 cm of snow may fall. On Sunday mostly cloudy and often foggy. Occasional light precipitation.

Due to new snow, avalanche danger will likely increase to level 2 by Sunday morning. New snow will fall on a hard or crusty base, so it may slab off steeper slopes.

Next snowpack report will be issued on Monday, 21.4.2014 morning.



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



Source: ARSO