9.03.2012
Dry and mostly sunny weather continues. On Wednesday the freezing level was still below 1000 m during the day, yesterday it temporarily warmed above zero to around 1500 m. The snow cover softened during the day and froze at night, remaining mostly frozen only in shaded locations and also on sun-facing high-mountain slopes above around 2000 m.
The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust that bears human weight in places. Not only on wind-packed spots, the surface is icy elsewhere too. During the day snow softens on sun-exposed slopes, partly also in the high mountains.
Significant snow cover extends in shady aspects mostly to elevations around 900 m, on sun-facing slopes bare ground is much higher. At 1500 m elevation in the Julian Alps there is around 60 cm of snow, elsewhere around 40 cm. Above 2000 m in the Julian Alps up to around 110 cm of snow. Avalanche danger is mostly level 1. During the day the danger slightly increases on sun-facing slopes. Only sufficiently steep slopes are dangerous, as well as spots with wind-drifted snow in shady aspects that can release with greater additional stress mainly midday and in the afternoon.
Especially on wind-packed spots and in shaded locations there is a risk of slips.
Dry and mostly sunny weather also for the weekend. The freezing level will initially be around 1200 m elevation, on Sunday rising to around 1800 m. Due to warmer weather the snow will also soften higher up during the day, freeze at night and the crust will strengthen.
New report will be issued on Monday, 12.3.2012.
General avalanche danger is level 1 on the European five-degree scale.
Source: ARSO