Snow conditions 27.2.2012

On Friday and also on Saturday it was sunny and very warm in the mountains. The snow cover therefore consolidated, especially on sunny slopes it became quite unstable in the middle of the day and early afternoon. Small avalanches of southern, partially cohesive snow released from steep slopes. In shady areas the snow began to transform somewhat faster, a crust formed in places. On Sunday it already cooled down, the freezing level dropped in the afternoon to around 1000 m above sea level. Strong northwesterly and northerly wind mainly in the high mountains created new wind slabs on the southern sides of ridges and passes. The snow cover froze and stabilized somewhat.


The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust that does not bear human weight, only in places in shady areas it is still soft. There is a lot of wind-blown snow.


Significant snow cover extends mostly to sea level altitude around 800 m. At 1500 m above sea level in the Julian Alps there is around 90 cm of snow, elsewhere around 60 cm. Above 2000 m in the Julian Alps around 130 cm of snow. The avalanche danger decreased to level 2 due to cooling. More dangerous are steeper slopes, especially spots with wind-blown snow that can avalanche with greater additional load. The snow cover on sunny mid-mountain slopes will soften somewhat during the day.


Spontaneous avalanching not expected. On wind-cleared spots there is risk of slips.


Warmer air is gradually arriving again. Today the freezing level will rise by evening to sea level altitude around 1200 m, tomorrow to around 1800 m. The snow cover will transform faster again, consolidate during the day and freeze at night. Only in shady areas transformation slower. In the middle of the day the danger will somewhat increase on sunny slopes to trigger an avalanche especially at spots with wind-blown snow.


New report will be issued on Wednesday, 29.2.2012.





General avalanche danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale.





Source: ARSO