Snow conditions in the mountains 25.3.2013

On Friday it was mostly clear. The sun melted the snow on sun-exposed slopes, which then froze overnight. A crust formed that held human weight in places. On Saturday it gradually clouded over and cooled. Temperatures in the mountains were below zero everywhere already in the morning. Sunday was also cold and cloudy with occasional light snowfall. By this morning, 5 to 15 cm of dry snow had fallen. It bonded poorly to the crusty base and the wind blew it into drifts.

At 2500 m in the Julian Alps there is currently 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 at 1500 m from 80 to 140 cm, at 1000 m from 30 to 50 cm.

Snow conditions vary considerably from place to place. In shady areas snow is mostly soft. Elsewhere there is an old crusty snow cover overlaid with new snow. This is quite wind-packed, often down to the underlying crust. On wind-exposed slopes there is danger of slipping on hard, partly icy base. There are many drifts and slabs.

Avalanche danger remains mostly 3rd degree in high mountains, below around 1500 m 2nd degree. Spontaneous avalanching is not generally expected. However, with minor additional stress a wind slab avalanche can be easily triggered.

Today and initially tomorrow there will be light snowfall, east to northeast wind blowing. It will be cold. Tomorrow during the day snowfall will gradually cease, clearing in the evening and night to Wednesday.

The snowpack will remain almost unchanged until Wednesday morning due to low temperatures. Wind will continue to transport snow into drifts, while the old snowpack will transform only slowly.



New report will be issued on Wednesday, 27.3.2013



General avalanche danger is 3rd degree on the European 5-level scale.



Source: ARSO