Snow conditions 26.10.2010

After the last snowfall in the mountains, the snow has mostly melted away. Some remains only in the high mountains of the Julian Alps and in shady spots elsewhere.
With the renewed snowfall, which started in the high mountains in the west already on Sunday, up to this morning 10 to about 40 cm of snow has fallen in the Julian Alps. The amount mainly depends on the altitude. Elsewhere in our mountains, there is less new snow.
The snow line has dropped to around 600 m above sea level.
In the high mountains of the Julian Alps, there is currently 40 to 65 cm of snow, lower down the amount decreases rapidly. Elsewhere in our mountains, there is less snow, 5 to 15 cm. The snow is light and dry, the north and northeast wind transports it on wind-exposed slopes into drifts, so the height of the snow cover is quite uneven.
Conditions in the mountains are currently wintery. Avalanche danger is low, 1st degree. The snow is light and soft.
This afternoon it will clear up and until the end of the week it will be mostly clear and initially cold. On Friday, warmer air will arrive, the freezing level will rise above 2000 m. Until Friday, the snow will remain light, only on the surface in sunny spots a crust will form. It will settle somewhat and melt in lower altitudes. At the end of the week, the freezing level will be above 3000 m. Therefore, the snow cover in the high mountains will start to transform and settle quickly.

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

Source: ARSO