Snow conditions 24.3.2014

After a sunny Friday, it became cloudy on Saturday in the western part of our mountains and especially in the area of the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, precipitation began to appear. The snow line was above 1700 m. On Sunday, the precipitation became more frequent and spread eastward. The snow line lowered only in the evening and night into Sunday with the passage of the cold front. Today the snow line is at about 1200 m above sea level.

In the high mountains of the Julian Alps, a total of 40 to more than 100 cm of snow fell, the most in the Bovec area. Much less snow fell in the eastern part of our mountains and below about 1800 m above sea level.

Lower down, the snow melted. Occasionally strong southwest wind blew the new snow into drifts.



The snow cover extends to about 800 m above sea level. The snow depth is quite uneven. Above about 2000 m in the Julian Alps, there is between 400 and about 600 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 280 cm. Elsewhere at 1500 m from 50 to 150 cm of snow, more in the western Karawanks. The snow cover is mostly soft due to new snow, below the snow line the snow is softened by rain but well transformed.

Avalanche danger is 3rd degree in the Julian Alps above about 1900 m above sea level, elsewhere in our mountains 1st to 2nd degree, depending on altitude and snow cover depth.

In the high mountains, the danger has increased due to new snow, especially in the western and central parts of the Julian Alps. There, individual medium-sized and frequent small new snow avalanches can release from steeper slopes. With additional loading of the snow cover, an avalanche can also be triggered at places with wind-blown snow.

Lower down, the snow cover has become saturated to the ground in many places and on steep grassy slopes, a saturated old snow avalanche can release.



Today it will be cloudy, occasionally it will snow in the mountains. The amount of snow will be locally quite variable and small. Tomorrow the weather will be more changeable, mainly midday and in the afternoon local snow showers will form. The snow line will be at about 1200 m above sea level. The new snow will settle gradually, but in the high mountains of the Julian Alps tomorrow avalanche danger will still be increased.

The next report on the snow cover situation will be issued on Wednesday, 26.3.2014 in the morning.



General avalanche danger is 3rd degree on the European 5-level scale.



Source: ARSO