Snow conditions in the mountains 22.3.2013

On Wednesday it was mostly cloudy, mainly during the night into Thursday there were transient light precipitations. Up to 5 cm of snow fell. The snow line was between 1200 and 900 m. Then it cleared up and in sunny weather the snow cover transformed and settled. The freezing level was around 1300 m above sea level. Even higher up, on sun-exposed slopes, the snow softened during the day and froze at night.

A thin crust formed. No significant sliding occurred anymore.

At 2500 m there is currently in the Julian Alps up to around 400 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to 260 cm and at 1000 m from 70 to around 90 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, snow depth at 1500 m is from 80 to 140 cm, at 1000 m from 30 to 40 cm.

The snow cover is mostly covered with a thin crust that does not support human weight. In shaded areas, especially in the high mountains, it is still powdery, lower down at night and in the morning frozen and hard, during the day it softens. There are many drifts and slabs.

Avalanche danger is mostly 3rd level in the high mountains, 2nd level below around 1500 m. Spontaneous sliding is mostly not expected. Even with minor additional loading, a new snow avalanche can be quickly triggered, especially in places with wind-packed snow.

Today it will still be clear, tomorrow it will gradually cloud over and cool slightly. From mid-afternoon light precipitations are possible in the west, but the amount will be negligible. On Sunday cloudy and foggy with light snowfall, which will continue into Monday. By Monday morning up to around 10 cm of dry snow will fall, which the easterly wind will blow into drifts.

Avalanche danger will not change. It will be cold, with temperatures below zero down to the lowlands.



New report will be issued on Monday, 25.3.2013



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



Source: ARSO