Snow Conditions in the Mountains 12.2.2013

In the night to Tuesday, it was cloudy, snowing everywhere. The snow in the mountains was dry. In the wider area of the Julian Alps and western Karavanke, as well as in the mid-mountains along the Dinaric barrier all the way to Snežnik and Gorski Kotar, 25 to 50 cm of new snow fell, in some places more than 70 cm. In the area of the eastern Karavanke and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, there was slightly less precipitation, 15 to 30 cm of new snow fell.

The snow cover extends to the valleys. At 2500 m in the Julian Alps, there is up to about 300 cm of snow, at 1500 m 240 cm, even in the foothills at 1000 m up to 140 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, there is 90 to 150 cm of snow at 1500 m, at 1000 m up to about 65 cm.

The new snow cover is light and unbound, formed on the previous quite blown and tossed, already loose base, with which it also adhered poorly. Therefore, snow conditions are very varied and change over relatively short distances. New snow has covered extensive areas of old blown snow, old cornices remain on the ridges.

The danger of snow avalanches has increased !! In the wider area of the Julian Alps and western Karavanke, it is HIGH, level 4 on the European five-level scale. On sufficiently steep slopes, an avalanche of unbound snow can be triggered even with a small load.

In some places, spontaneous triggering of numerous smaller and in some places also larger avalanches is possible. Elsewhere in the mountains and also in the mid-mountains where more snow fell, it is CONSIDERABLE, level 3. Especially steeper slopes are dangerous.

Until Thursday inclusive, it will be cloudy, there will be somewhat more precipitation especially in the east of Slovenia. In the mountains, it will occasionally snow lightly in some places, up to about 10 cm of snow may fall. Initially, a weak wind will blow mostly from northeastern to eastern directions, which will strengthen on Wednesday and transport snow into drifts and cornices. Temperatures in the mountains will be below freezing all the time, above 1500 m below -5 °C.

The transformation of the snow cover will be slow. The danger of snow avalanches is expected to remain increased.

On Friday, it will be partly clear and without major precipitation.

A new report will be issued on Thursday, 14.2.2013



The general avalanche danger is level 4 on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO