Snow conditions in the mountains 16.3.2011

From Monday, the weather in the mountains was cloudy, only on Pohorje and initially in the eastern Karawanks was it also sunny. Precipitation mainly occurred in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, with the snow line around 1600 m. There, up to this morning, 20 to 30 cm of snow fell, considerably more in the western Julians and in the Bohinj hills, where above around 1700 m more than half a meter of new snow fell. The southwesterly wind built cornices and slabs. Lower down, the snow settled and melted.

In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is up to around 360 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to around 120 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m there is still up to 10 cm of snow. The snow is light and soft, below the snow line soggy. In the eastern part of our mountains there is very little or no new snow. In places with greater amounts of new snow there are many cornices.

Avalanche danger in the Julians and western Karawanks is 3rd degree, elsewhere mostly 1st degree. Particularly dangerous are areas with wind-packed snow and steeper slopes. There, an avalanche can be triggered by minor additional stress.

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, wet snow avalanches may release on steep slopes.

Until Thursday morning there will still be precipitation, the snow line will drop to around 1100 m above sea level in the Julians, elsewhere around 1600 m. Also in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and eastern Karawanks up to around 30 cm of snow will fall by tomorrow. On Thursday and in the night to Friday it will be mostly dry. Freezing level a little below 2000 m. Snow will settle. South and southwesterly winds will drift new snow into cornices. Avalanche danger will increase everywhere.

The next report will be issued on Friday, 18 March.



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



Warning!

Until Thursday morning in western regions 70 to 100 liters of rain per square meter will fall. Most rain is expected between Goriška, Slovenian Istria and the Snežnik area.

This afternoon and in the night to Thursday, rivers across the country will rise significantly and mostly reach high discharges. The most rise will be in rivers in western, southwestern and central Slovenia, especially Soča, Vipava with tributaries, Idrijca, Reka, Kolpa, Gradaščica, Ljubljanica and Poljanska Sora. The mentioned rivers may flood exposed sites in the area of annual floods. Presumably on Friday the hydrological conditions will gradually start to calm.

This evening between 19 and 21 o'clock, due to elevated high tide, the sea will flood lower-lying coastal areas. The sea level at the Koper tide gauge station will presumably exceed the 300 cm water level.



Source: ARSO