Snow conditions in the mountains 14.12.2012

On Wednesday it was cold in the mountains, yesterday a southwest wind blew in the high elevations and the temperature rose. But since it remained below zero everywhere in the mountains, the wind created new drifts on the eastern and northern sides of the ridges. During the night to Friday, light snow began to fall, but in some places in the west only a few centimeters of snow fell. Snowfall limit Snow cover extends to the lowlands. In the Julian Alps and western Karawanks there is snow from 10 to about 40 cm, above about 2000 m up to about 120 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains the snow cover is 20 to about 50 cm thick. The snow is heavily wind-packed, in places down to the old base or even to bare ground. There are many drifts and slabs, extensive areas of wind slab. The snow is mostly covered with a crust formed by the wind, in sheltered spots it is soft.

Avalanche danger is mostly level 2, below about 1500 m elevation level 1. Steeper slopes with wind slab are dangerous, where even minor loading can trigger an avalanche. Spontaneous avalanches are unlikely. Today precipitation will occur in the western half of Slovenia, the snowfall limit will rise by evening to elevation between 800 and 1100 m, lowest in the northwest. Overnight and tomorrow precipitation will intensify and tomorrow during the day gradually spread eastward. The snowfall limit will gradually rise to elevation between 1300 and 1600 m. Most precipitation will be in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, where above the snowfall limit up to Saturday evening more than 70 cm of snow may fall, elsewhere 10 to 40 cm, least in the east. Snow will be dry higher up, wet lower down. Southwest wind will create new drifts and slabs. Avalanche danger will increase to 3 to 4 in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, elsewhere somewhat less. Spontaneous release of avalanches from steeper slopes in the high mountains is also expected. Due to the weather and heavy precipitation, visiting the mountains for the weekend is advised against. New report will be issued on Monday, 17.12.2012.



General avalanche danger is level 3 on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO