Snow conditions 27.12.2013

Cloudy weather with occasional precipitation continued on Thursday daytime and into the night to Friday, but on Friday morning the precipitation rapidly weakened and ceased. The snow line remained relatively high, around 1500 m, descending slightly lower mainly in areas with heavier precipitation. By Friday morning, an additional 10 to about 50 cm of snow fell, far the most in the Julian Alps.

The snow cover settled somewhat as it accumulated but remained relatively loose. The freezing level was at about 1600 m above sea level on Friday morning.

Total snow in the high Julian Alps is from 100 to about 250 cm, in higher locations of the Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps locally up to about 1 m. At 1500 m it is from 30 to about 90 cm. Significant snow cover starts at about 1400 m above sea level or higher.

Snow is wet and heavy in lower elevations, looser only above about 1700 m above sea level. The bond between old and new snow is weak. There is a lot of wind-blown snow.

Avalanche danger is primarily 4th degree in the high mountains of the western Julian Alps, 3rd degree elsewhere in high mountains (on the European 5-degree scale). Spontaneous avalanching expected mainly on steeper slopes. In the Julian Alps larger avalanches possible, elsewhere mostly numerous small and medium-sized avalanches of new, unbonded or partially bonded snow. Avalanches can be triggered even with minor additional load on the snow cover, especially dangerous are wind-blown snow areas and steep to moderately steep slopes on all aspects.

Saturday will be dry and initially partly clear. A strong southwesterly wind will develop, creating new drifts. The freezing level will temporarily rise to our highest peaks or slightly above. Due to warming the snow cover will become even more unstable and spontaneous avalanching likelihood will increase. The snow cover will settle and transform faster, thereby gradually stabilizing somewhat. On Sunday with new snowfall cooling will begin, freezing level dropping below 1300 m, in the night to Monday also below 1000 m. In mountains until Monday morning expected less than 10 to about 30 cm snow, in Julian Alps and western Karawanks 30 to over 40 cm. Despite cooling, due to new snow avalanche danger will not decrease.

Next snow cover report issued on Monday, 30.12.2013



General avalanche danger is 4th degree on the European 5-degree scale.



Source: ARSO