Snow conditions 21.4.2014
21.04.2014
On Friday there was sunny weather, so the snow softened during the day. On Saturday it was mostly cloudy, with occasional precipitation from the night to Sunday and on Sunday until this morning. The snow line was at altitudes between 1500 and 1900 m. Around 5 cm of snow fell in the mountains. It snowed on a mostly crusted base.
Significant snow cover extends on sun-facing slopes up to about 1500 m a.s.l., in shady areas up to about 1000 m. Above about 2000 m there is snow in the Julian Alps from about 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, with new snow on the old base, from a few to at most 10 cm.
Avalanche danger below about 1600 m is 2nd degree, elsewhere 1st degree.
The snowpack is stable, the possibility of triggering an avalanche is currently low. The new snow has not increased avalanche danger, but below about 1600 m the snowpack has become additionally soaked and somewhat more unstable. Therefore, individual wet snow avalanches are possible there.
Today it will be cloudy with occasional precipitation, the snow line at about 1800 m a.s.l. Tomorrow variable cloudiness with local showers that will not affect avalanche conditions. Freezing level at about 2100 m a.s.l., tomorrow a bit higher. In the high mountains avalanche danger will remain low, below about 1800 m due to occasional rain the old snow on steeper slopes will still be somewhat more unstable.
The next snowpack report will be issued on Wednesday, 23.4.2014 in the morning.
General avalanche danger is 2nd degree on the European five-level scale.
Source: ARSO