Snow conditions in the mountains 14.3.2011

On Friday and Saturday it was still dry and partly sunny weather, but on Sunday afternoon precipitation began to appear in the Julians and western Karawanks, spreading eastward overnight. The snow line was at around 1500 m above sea level.

Especially in the high mountains, snow fell on a crusty base. In the Julians and western Karawanks 10 to about 40 cm of snow fell, more in the western Julian Alps. Elsewhere new snow was only up to 10 cm. Mostly a southwest wind blew, transporting the new snow into wind slabs.

In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is up to about 350 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 130 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m there is about 20 cm of snow. The snow in the Julians and western Karawanks is soft and light, depending on the amount of new snow. On wind-exposed spots it is often scoured to a hard, partially icy base. Below the snow line the snow melted and was soaked by rain. Elsewhere in our mountains there are a few centimeters of new snow on the crusty base, which is also quite wind-scoured.

Avalanche danger is 3rd degree in the Julians and western Karawanks, elsewhere mostly 1st degree. Especially dangerous are spots with wind-packed snow and steeper slopes. There, even with minor additional loading, you can trigger an avalanche.

Especially in the western part of the Julians and in the Bohinj hills, spontaneous avalanching from steeper slopes is expected. Lower down, where it rained more heavily, on steep slopes a wet snow slab can be triggered.

Until midweek, cloudy weather with high humidity in the mountains, only on Pohorje and in the eastern Karawanks there might be some sun.

Freezing level will be at about 2100 m above sea level. Occasional precipitation, snow line mostly above 1600 m. More precipitation in the Julian Alps, where up to Wednesday morning around 30 cm of snow can fall, less in the western Karawanks and Savinja Alps. The new snow will settle, south and southwest winds will form wind slabs on exposed terrain. Avalanche danger in the high mountains will likely increase slightly.

Next report will be issued on Wednesday, 16 March.



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



Source: ARSO