Snow conditions in the mountains 18.2.2011

During the night into Thursday and throughout Thursday, it snowed. In the mountains, 10 to 50 cm of snow fell, around 50 cm in the western Julian Alps, 25 to 40 cm in the central Julian Alps and western Karawanks, and less elsewhere. The new snow bonded poorly with the crusty base. A southwesterly wind was blowing, creating drifts.

In the Julian Alps at 2500 m up to about 360 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 140 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m about 30 cm of snow. A thin snow cover extends to the lowlands. The snow is soft and powdery, but in wind-exposed areas it is often blown down to the hard and partially icy old base.

Avalanche danger has increased to level 3 in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, elsewhere it is level 1 to 2 depending on the amount of new snow. Particularly dangerous are areas with wind-drifted snow and steeper slopes. In the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, medium-sized avalanches of new dry snow can also release spontaneously from sufficiently steep slopes. Mostly, however, an avalanche is triggered by the additional load of a pedestrian or skier.

Dry and cold weather will continue until Monday. Temperatures in the mountains will remain below zero. The freezing level will still be around 1200 m on Saturday, then below 800 m. The snow cover will slowly settle and transform, faster on sun-exposed slopes. Northeasterly wind will transport snow and create new drifts on the western and southern sides of ridges and passes. Avalanche danger will decrease only slowly.

The next report will be issued on Monday, 21 February.



General avalanche danger is considerable, i.e. level 3 on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO