Snow conditions 21.3.2012

On Monday and on Tuesday night there were minor precipitations in the mountains, mostly dry on Pohorje and partly in the eastern Karawanks. In the high mountains up to about 5 cm of snow fell, which did not affect avalanche conditions. Lower down the snow melted.

Avalanche conditions have hardly changed. The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust that bears human weight, or is consolidated to depth. Not only on wind-packed spots, but also elsewhere the surface is icy. During the day the snow cover softens in the sun, at night it freezes.

Significant snow cover extends in shady aspects mostly up to altitude around 1100 m, on sunny slopes it is bare even above 1600 m. At 1500 m altitude consolidated snow cover is mainly on plateaus and shady aspects. In the Julian Alps there is about 40 cm of snow, elsewhere about 30 cm. Above 2000 m in the Julian Alps up to about 80 cm of snow. Avalanche danger is grade 1. The snow cover is mostly well transformed, but especially in places with drifted snow 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. Especially on wind-packed spots and in shaded locations there is also danger of glides.

Sunny weather will continue. Freezing level at around 2500 m altitude. During the day snow will soften, at night freeze.

Also in shady aspects the snow cover will transform faster.

New report will be issued on Friday, 23.3.2012.



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



Source: ARSO