Snow conditions in the mountains 11.1.2012

Dry and mostly sunny weather continues, only yesterday there were isolated snow showers. The snow cover has been slowly settling and transforming. Occasionally, a strengthened north to northwesterly wind blew, which especially in the high mountains still transported snow into drifts.

The snowpack condition is very varied. In sheltered locations, snow is soft in places, elsewhere mostly covered with crust. In places it bears human weight. There are many drifts and slabs, at the same time snow on wind-exposed sites is heavily wind-packed, there the base is hard and icy in places. The snow cover starts at sea level altitude around 1300 m, in gullies around 1000 m. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m sea level up to around 120 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to around 60 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m up to around 40 cm. Avalanche danger is mostly 2nd degree, lower where there is little snow 1st degree. Especially dangerous are sites with drifted snow and steep slopes. There you can trigger a snow avalanche already with minor loading. Spontaneous avalanches are not expected. On scoured sites there is risk of slips.

Dry and mostly sunny weather will continue. Freezing level today and tomorrow at sea level altitude around 1500 m, then it will cool down. Snow will slowly transform. There will be no stronger wind that would transport snow.

New report will be issued on Friday, 13.1.2012.



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



Source: ARSO