Snow conditions in the mountains 23.12.2011

Cold and dry weather continues. In the mountains, a strong north wind was blowing, which is slowly weakening today. It was drifting snow into wind slabs on the southern sides of ridges and passes. The snowpack has transformed and settled only slightly.

There is relatively little snow in the mountains. In the Julian Alps, at 2500 m there is about 100 cm, at 1500 m about 50 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, at 1500 m there is 20 to about 30 cm of snow. The snowpack condition varies considerably. In some places the snow is soft, but in many places it is covered with a crust that holds human weight in some places, but mostly not. Wind-exposed locations are scoured to the old, partially icy base. Avalanche danger in the high mountains of the Julian Alps is 2nd degree, elsewhere 1st degree.

Dangerous are mainly areas with drifted snow and steeper slopes. In places where the snow is scoured, and also elsewhere, there is a risk of slipping on the old, partially icy base.

Today it will be dry and sunny, between 1400 and 1800 m the temperature will be around zero or slightly above zero. Therefore, the snow there will transform somewhat faster than elsewhere. On Saturday it will be cloudy with light snowfall mainly in the afternoon. Up to about 5 cm of snow may fall. On Sunday it will be clear and colder, the north wind will pick up again somewhat. On Monday it will become cloudy and light snow will fall again during the day. Presumably 5 to 10 cm of snow will fall. Thus, the snowpack will not enrich much by Tuesday morning. The wind will occasionally drift new snow and form new wind slabs mainly again on the southern sides. Avalanche conditions will not change significantly.

The new report will be issued on Tuesday, 27 December 2011.



General avalanche danger is 2nd degree on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO