Snow conditions 25.11.2013

At the end of the week it snowed in the mountains, the precipitation mostly stopped on Sunday during the day. The snow line fluctuated, more snow fell mainly above about 1200 m above sea level, namely from 30 to about 70 cm. The snow was dry in the high mountains, lower down wet and bonded well to the ground. The freezing level, which was until yesterday at about 1400 m a.s.l., dropped by this morning below 1000 m. A strong north wind blew, carrying snow into drifts.

In the high mountains of the Julian Alps there is about 140 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to 50 cm. There are many drifts, on wind-exposed locations the snow is in places heavily scoured, even to bare ground. Avalanche danger in the high mountains, above about 1800 m a.s.l., is 3rd degree, elsewhere 2nd and decreases rapidly with decreasing elevation. Dangerous above all are places with wind-drifted snow and steep slopes.

Ahead is a period of dry and cold weather. The north wind will calm on Wednesday during the day. Drifts will still form mainly on the south sides of ridges and passes. Temperature in the mountains will be below zero, so the snow will transform and stabilize only slowly. It will warm up on Thursday, when the freezing level will rise to about 1200 m a.s.l. We expect a slow decrease in avalanche danger.

The next report on the snowpack will be published on Friday, 29.11.2013.



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



Source: ARSO