Snow conditions in the mountains 17.12.2012

In the night to Saturday and during Saturday, it rained in the mountains, above about 1600 m it snowed. Higher up in the Julian Alps, up to about 40 cm of snow fell, elsewhere much less. The southwesterly wind blew it into drifts. The new snow fell on a partly crusted base with which it did not bond well. Lower down, with the rain the snow settled and melted. In some places on steep slopes, wet snow slab avalanches released. With the clearing in the night to Sunday, the snow froze above the cloud level.

The snow cover extends to about 900 m above sea level. Higher up the snow is soft and light, in wind-exposed places partly blown to the old base. Lower down the snow is frozen and hard, below about 1300 m southern. At 2500 m in the Julian Alps up to about 160 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to 70 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m from 15 to about 30 cm.

Avalanche danger in the high mountains of the Julian Alps is 3rd degree, elsewhere above about 1800 m 2nd degree, below sea levels under about 1500 m 1st degree. Steeper slopes in the high mountains with windpacked snow are dangerous, where even minor loading can trigger an avalanche. Spontaneous avalanches are unlikely. In the mid-mountains there is also a risk of slipping on icy surfaces somewhere.

Until Friday no precipitation. In the high mountains partly clear with occasional increased cloudiness. On Thursday during the day it will start clouding from the west. Freezing level today at about 1300 m above sea level, tomorrow it will drop to about 800 m. The snow cover will slowly transform. In the high mountains the new snow will settle somewhat and stabilize, avalanche danger will gradually decrease by mid-week.

New report will be issued on Friday, 21.12.2012.



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



Source: ARSO