Snow conditions in the mountains 19.12.2011

On Friday and overnight into Saturday, it snowed in the mountains. On Friday, the snow line was between 1000 and 1300 m, overnight into Saturday it lowered, in places to the lowlands. In the mountains, from 5 to almost 50 cm of snow fell, depending on elevation and also location.

The most new snow fell in the western and southern parts of the Julian Alps and in the Zasavje Hills, from 20 to around 45 cm, elsewhere mostly around 20 cm or less. On Friday, a strong southwesterly wind blew, which especially in the high mountains created drifts and slabs, as the snow line lowered a northerly and northwesterly wind blew.

Currently in the Julian Alps at 2500 m up to around 110 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to around 50 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, the snow cover is thick from 10 to over 20 cm. The snow is soft, wind-exposed locations are scoured to the old, partially icy base. Avalanche danger has increased in the high Julian Alps to 2nd degree, elsewhere it is small, 1st degree.

Dangerous are especially places with drifted snow. Especially at places where snow is scoured, there is danger of slipping on the old, partially icy base.

Today cloudy, occasionally light snow, somewhat more pronounced in southern and partly central Slovenia. In the mountains, the amount of precipitation negligible. Northeasterly wind will blow, transporting snow into drifts on west- and south-facing sides of ridges. Tomorrow dry and cold weather. The snow cover will settle and transform only slowly. Avalanche conditions will not change much until midweek.

New report will be issued on Wednesday, December 21, 2011.



General avalanche danger is moderate, i.e., 2nd degree on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO