Snow conditions 26.3.2014

On Monday and Tuesday, cloudy weather prevailed in the mountains. There was occasional light snowfall, and snow showers also occurred. The amount of new snow is therefore very variable locally, but nowhere more than about 5 cm of snow fell. The 0 °C isotherm was between 1000 and 1300 m. The snow that fell at the end of the weekend settled and transformed only slowly.



The snow cover extends to an elevation of about 700 m. Snow depths are quite uneven. Above about 2000 m in the Julian Alps, snow depths are between 400 and about 600 cm, 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; below the snow line, snow is softened by rain but well transformed, or frozen.

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

Especially in the high terrain of the western and central Julian Alps, individual medium-sized and frequent small new-snow avalanches can release from steeper slopes. With additional snow cover loading, an avalanche can also be triggered at sites with wind-packed snow.

Lower down, the snow cover is more stable.



Until Friday morning, cloudy weather with occasional minor precipitation will prevail. The snow line will today still be between 700 and 1000 m, but it will rise gradually and by Friday morning be at about 1300 m elevation. By Friday morning, up to 5 cm of snow will fall.

Avalanche conditions will not change much. The snow cover will continue to settle and transform slowly; avalanche danger will also slowly decrease in the high terrain of the Julian Alps.

The next snow cover report will be issued on Friday morning, 29.3.2014.



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



Source: ARSO