Snow conditions 22.12.2014

At the end of the week there was dry and quite sunny weather. It was still warm on Saturday, when the freezing level was at an altitude of around 2500 m, then it cooled slightly by Sunday morning and zero degrees was around 2000 m above sea level. At the same time the wind strengthened somewhat. By this morning zero degrees has already risen to 2600 m. The snow cover softened during the day on sunny aspects and at lower elevations and refroze at night, but in shady locations the snow conditions did not change much due to the dry air.

The snow has also settled somewhat.

At an elevation of 2500 m there is snow in the Julian Alps up to around 110 cm, at 1500 m from 10 to 15 cm. Elsewhere there is less snow, at 1500 m it is mostly bare ground, and in many places even higher.

The snowpack conditions are quite varied. Crust predominates, which in places in the high mountains bears human weight, and the surface is icy in places. There is some wind-drifted snow, but in gullies the snow is less transformed and especially in the high mountains dry. Wind-exposed locations are quite scoured.

Avalanche danger is mostly grade 1.

The snowpack is mostly stable and bonded. A small avalanche can only be triggered on steeper shady slopes in the high mountains, especially in places with wind-drifted snow and under high snowpack loading.



Dry and fairly sunny weather will continue. Even warmer air will arrive, and the freezing level will rise above our highest peaks already today. The snow cover will soften during the day on sunny slopes and at lower elevations, and refreeze at night. It will remain crusty, softening towards noon and early afternoon on sunny slopes.

The next report will be published on Wednesday, 24.12.2014.



General avalanche danger is grade 1 on the European 5-level scale.



Source: ARSO