Snow conditions 26.3.2012

While it was mostly clear on Friday, there was more cloudiness for the weekend and also a bit cooler in the elevations than last week. Due to the smaller amount of solar radiation, the snow cover did not soften as much during the day, and in the high mountains it remained mostly frozen. There were no noteworthy snowfalls during individual showers.

Avalanche conditions have hardly changed. The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust that bears human weight, or it is consolidated even in depth. During the day it softens under the influence of strong sun, especially at lower elevations it is therefore soft and soggy snow during the day. In the gullies of the high mountains, however, the snow remains mostly frozen.

Significant snow cover extends in gullies mostly to an elevation of around 1100 m, on sunny slopes it is bare even above 1700 m. At 1500 m elevation, consolidated snow cover is mainly on plateaus and gullies. In the Julian Alps there is about 30 cm of snow, elsewhere about 20 cm. Above 2000 m in the Julian Alps there is about 80 cm of snow. Avalanche danger is level 1. The snow cover is mostly well transformed and stable, it becomes somewhat unstable during the day especially on sunny slopes. Especially at wind-packed spots and in shaded locations there is also a risk of gliding.

Sunny weather will continue until Friday. Avalanche conditions will not change much. Lower down the snow will melt.

New report will be issued on Friday, 30.3.2012.



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



Source: ARSO