Snow conditions in the mountains 16.5.2011
17.05.2011
Due to a larger amount of new snow, we are issuing an extraordinary report on the condition of the snow cover in the mountains.
Yesterday it snowed in the mountains up to an altitude of about 1200 m.
10 to over 40 cm of snow fell, depending on altitude and location. The most precipitation was in the Julian Alps. A strong northern and north-eastern wind blew, which blew the new snow considerably into drifts. The new snow was initially wet, then dry, so it bonded well with the base.
In the Julian Alps, at 2500 m there is a total of about 240 cm of snow, at 1500 m about 15 cm of new snow that fell on bare ground. There are quite a few drifts in the high mountains. The new snow is soft.
The avalanche danger is 2nd degree in the high mountains, elsewhere 1st degree. Under greater additional load, primarily the new, wind-packed snow can slide on steeper slopes.
Otherwise, the new snow is settling quickly and also melting. The snowline is today at about 2100 m altitude.
In the coming days, the new snow will melt and transform quickly, and the avalanche danger will decrease rapidly and then be 1st degree everywhere.
The general avalanche danger is moderate, i.e. 2nd degree on the European five-degree scale.
Source: ARSO