Snow conditions in the mountains 2.2.2011

Dry and sunny weather continues. The top of the cloud cover has lowered from 1300 m to about 1000 m altitude. Temperature rose above zero during the day up to about 1700 m altitude. The air was dry. Therefore, the snow cover softened during the day only on sunny slopes, where due to nighttime freezing the snow transformed somewhat faster. In shady areas the snow cover is still poorly transformed.

In the Julian Alps at 2500 m up to about 350 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 90 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m about 20 cm of snow. The surface is mostly covered with a crust that holds human weight in places. On this crusty base there is up to about 10 cm of dry snow. In many places the top snow layer is quite wind-packed, in more exposed spots down to the old, partially icy base. In sheltered areas there is more drifted, dry snow.

Avalanche danger above about 1800 m is 2nd degree.

Especially dangerous are areas with drifted snow in shady spots. There, with greater additional load, you can trigger an avalanche. Elsewhere the danger is 1st degree. In places the snow cover is hard and icy, hence risk of slipping.

Until Friday it will be dry and still cold. Today temperature will rise above zero during the day up to about 1500 m altitude, tomorrow a bit higher. Noticeably warmer air will start arriving at higher elevations in the night to Friday. Until Friday morning avalanche conditions will not change.

The next report will be issued on Friday, 4 February.



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



Source: ARSO