Snow conditions in the mountains 14.1.2011

Dry weather continues. In the last few days it has warmed up considerably.

The freezing level is above 2600 m. Therefore, the snowpack has also started to transform and settle faster even in the high mountains, and on the surface especially on sun-exposed slopes a crust has formed. Lower down, where it is even warmer, the snow has become wet and slushy, freezing only at night.

In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is up to about 370 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 90 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m there is about 20 cm of snow. Lower down it melts quickly, sun-exposed slopes are bare in places even above 1500 m. The snowpack is mostly covered with crust, which in the high mountains mostly does not bear human weight. Where the snow is wind-packed, the base is hard and icy in places. Soft snow is only in the gullies of the high mountains. Lower down the snow is mostly wet and softened, freezing at night but only high enough and in frost hollows.

Avalanche danger in the high Julian Alps, above about 1700 m, is level 2. An avalanche can be triggered by significant additional stress especially at wind-loaded spots and on steeper slopes. Elsewhere in our mountains the danger is level 1. On wind-packed spots there is risk of slips.

Dry and quite warm weather will continue. The freezing level will temporarily drop below 2500 m on Saturday, on Sunday it will again be above the highest peaks. The snowpack will settle and transform, but in the gullies of the high mountains due to dry air the snow will remain mostly dry and poorly transformed. The snowpack will slowly stabilise.

The next report will be issued on Monday, 17 January.

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

Source: ARSO