Snow conditions in the mountains 10.4.2013
10.04.2013
At the end of the week there was mostly dry weather, and in the first half of this week there was also some sun. The snow line has gradually risen to around 1500 m above sea level by today. The snow cover has settled and transformed rapidly, but in shaded areas of the high mountains the snow remained poorly transformed and mostly dry. On sun-exposed slopes it froze during the day and refroze at night.
A crust has formed.
At 2500 m in the Julian Alps there is about 460 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to 300 cm and at 1000 m 60 to 80 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m 100 to 150 cm, at 1000 m around 60 cm.
The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust that bears human weight in places. In shaded high mountain areas the snow is still dry and also soft in places. Below about 1500 m the snow cover is well settled and frozen in the morning, but softens during the day. There are many wind slabs and slabs in the high mountains.
Avalanche danger is 2nd degree above about 1600 m, lower 1st degree. Spontaneous avalanching is not expected mostly, only small sloughs possible from steep sun-exposed slopes midday and afternoon. An avalanche can be triggered by greater additional load on steeper slopes and areas with wind-blown snow.
Until Friday morning in the western Julian Alps moderately to mostly cloudy, higher peaks will have some sun tomorrow at least for a while. Elsewhere partly clear, clouds gathering over peaks of the Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Minor occasional precipitation expected mainly in the western and southern parts of the Julian Alps tomorrow towards evening and in the night to Friday. Snow line at sea level between 1500 and 1700 m. Strong southwest wind blowing. The snow cover will transform further tomorrow during the day, melting slowly lower. Avalanche conditions will not change much until Friday morning.
New report will be issued on Friday, 12.4.2013 in the morning.
General avalanche danger is 2nd degree on the European 5-level scale.
Source: ARSO