Snow conditions in the mountains 17.3.2011

Yesterday and until this morning it snowed in the mountains. The snow line was in the Julians at around 1100 m, elsewhere up to 1600 m above sea level. In the western Julian Alps up to around 70 cm of snow fell, elsewhere in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks from 20 to 40 cm, in the Savinja Alps and eastern Karawanks from 10 to 30 cm. The southwesterly wind created drifts and wind slabs on exposed spots. Lower down the snow melted due to rain.

In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is up to around 420 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 soaked by rain. There are many drifts.

Avalanche danger in the western Julians and in the Bohinj hills above around 1700 m is 4th degree, the danger is high and general. Spontaneous avalanching is expected from steeper slopes. Elsewhere in our mountains avalanche danger is 3rd degree, only lower where there is little snow it is 1st degree. An avalanche can be triggered already by minor loading of the snow cover especially on steeper slopes and at places with wind-packed snow, individual spontaneous avalanches are also possible from sufficiently steep slopes. Lower, where it rained, a wet snow avalanche can be triggered on steep slopes.

Today precipitation will weaken. It will remain cloudy and mostly foggy weather. Freezing level will be at sea level altitude around 1800 m. New snow will settle, lower down it will melt.

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



General avalanche danger is 4th degree on the European five-degree scale.



Source: ARSO