Snow conditions 19.12.2014

Variable weather continues without significant precipitation. In the high mountains, up to about 5 cm of snow fell during the week.

The zero isotherm height fluctuated considerably, mostly between 1400 and 1900 m, today it rose above our highest peaks. The snow cover transformed and a crust strengthened on the surface. During the day, especially at elevations below 2000 m, on sun-exposed slopes the snow melted, at night it froze.

At 2500 m altitude in the Julian Alps there is about 120 cm of snow, at 1500 m about 20 cm. Elsewhere there is less snow, at 1500 m mostly bare ground, in many places even higher.

There is little snow in the mountains. The snowpack condition is quite varied. Crust predominates, which in places in the high mountains supports human weight. There is some wind-blown snow, on new drifts the snow is less transformed and especially in the high mountains dry. On wind-exposed sites the snow is quite scoured.

Avalanche danger is mostly level 1.

The snowpack is mostly stable and bonded. A small avalanche can only be triggered on steeper slopes in the high mountains, especially at sites with wind-blown snow and under high load on the snowpack.



The end of the week will be dry. Today it will be mostly clear and warm, but the air dry, so the snowpack will melt on the surface only on sun-exposed slopes. Tomorrow and Sunday mostly sunny, gradually cooling. The freezing level will drop below 2000 m on Saturday, on Sunday to about 1300 m above sea level. Therefore, the snow will remain mostly frozen and dry. On Saturday and Sunday a somewhat stronger northwester will blow.

Next report will be published on Monday, 22.12.2014.



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



Source: ARSO