Snow conditions in the mountains 15.3.2013
15.03.2013
On Wednesday it was cloudy with occasional precipitation, which was more abundant in the western part of our mountains. Up to 30 cm of snow fell in the Julian Alps, elsewhere 5 to 15 cm. The snow line was below 1000 m in the west, rising to around 1200 m towards the east. Snow also fell on Thursday, except in most of the Julian Alps where it was mostly dry.
The most snow fell in eastern and partly southern Slovenia, up to 30 cm. It cooled significantly. A strong northerly wind blew, drifting snow into wind slabs. At lower elevations, the wet snow cover froze and stabilized.
At 2500 m in the Julian Alps there is around 360 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to 210 cm and at 1000 m around 60 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, snow depth at 1500 m is 60 to 110 cm, at 1000 m around 30 cm.
The snowpack is mostly soft and loose, but fresh snow has been wind-scoured to the old hard base in many places. There are many new wind slabs, mostly on the southern sides of ridges and saddles. There are many slabs.
Avalanche danger is mostly 3rd degree, below around 1000 m 1st degree. Steeper slopes and areas with wind-drifted snow above around 1200 m are particularly dangerous, where even minor loads on the snowpack can trigger avalanches of partly bonded snow. There is also a risk of slabs on wind-scoured areas.
Today it will be partly clear and cold. A northerly wind will blow, weakening during the day. It will still drift snow into wind slabs. Tomorrow it will still be cold with mostly clear weather. Snow will settle slightly during the day only on sun-exposed slopes of hills and foothills, but not much higher in the mountains. On Sunday it will become cloudy. The freezing level will rise to around 800 m above sea level. In some western Julian Alps, foothills and Notranjska hills, there will be occasional light snowfall in the afternoon. A southwesterly wind will blow.
The snowpack will slowly transform and settle.
Avalanche danger in the high mountains will remain mostly unchanged.
New report will be issued on Monday, 18.3.2013
General avalanche danger is 3rd degree on the European 5-level scale.
Source: ARSO