Snow conditions 2.12.2013

On Saturday there was light snowfall in some mountains, a noteworthy amount of new snow fell mostly only in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, but also less than 10 cm. On Sunday and today it was mostly clear and the temperature was below 1200 m above sea level mostly below zero all the time. Only today did it warm up to zero at some altitudes. The snow cover has transformed and stabilized only slowly. The snow remained dry and frozen.

In the high mountains of the Julian Alps there is 100 to about 130 cm of snow, at 1500 m, also elsewhere in our mountains, up to about 60 cm.

There are many wind slabs and small avalanches, in wind-exposed locations the snow is heavily wind-packed in places, even down to the ground. The noteworthy snow cover extends to about 1100 m above sea level, especially in the Julian Alps even a bit lower. The snow is dry, crusty in places and icy due to wind in places. The avalanche danger is mostly 2nd degree and decreases rapidly with decreasing altitude. Dangerous are mainly places with drifted snow and steep slopes, especially in gullies. Spontaneous avalanching is not expected, but you can trigger a snow avalanche relatively quickly at critical points, mostly of smaller extent.

Until Friday it will be dry and quite sunny in the mountains. Warmer but dry air will gradually flow in. The freezing level will rise to the highest peaks by midweek. The warming will not greatly affect the snow cover, especially in shady locations there will be almost no changes. The crust will strengthen somewhat on sun-exposed slopes, the snow will transform and stabilize slowly. The wind will decrease, strengthening somewhat on Thursday especially in the high mountains.

The next report on the snowpack will be published on Friday, 6.12.2013.



General avalanche danger is 2nd degree on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO