7.03.2012
In relatively cold and dry weather, the snow cover has slowly transformed. Especially on sun-exposed slopes and plateaus, it has become crusty during the day, only in the high mountains and shady areas it mostly remained frozen or dry.
The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust that in places supports human weight. Not only on wind-packed spots, but also elsewhere the surface is icy. During the day, snow on sun-exposed spots softens, partly even in the high mountains.
Significant snow cover extends in shady areas mostly up to sea level altitude of about 900 m, on sun-exposed slopes it is bare much higher. At sea level altitude of 1500 m in the Julian Alps there is about 60 cm of snow, elsewhere about 40 cm. Above 2000 m in the Julian Alps about 110 cm of snow. Avalanche danger is mostly grade 1. During the day, danger slightly increases on sun-exposed slopes. Only sufficiently steep slopes are dangerous, especially wind-deposited snow spots in shady areas, which can release with greater additional load especially midday and afternoon.
Especially on wind-packed spots and in shady areas there is risk of slips.
Dry weather will continue. Today the snowline is at sea level altitude of about 900 m, tomorrow it will temporarily rise to about 1200 m and on Friday morning drop below 1000 m. The snow cover will continue to gradually transform and settle, faster on sun-exposed slopes, where it will also become bare lower. Avalanche danger will slightly increase during the day especially on sun-exposed slopes and decrease again at night.
New report will be issued on Friday, 9.3.2012.
General avalanche danger is grade 1 on the European 5-level scale.
Source: ARSO