Snow conditions in the mountains 27.1.2012

Sunny and cold weather continues. Snow conditions have not changed since mid-week. The snow remains dry and frozen, only in lower altitudes has it crusted on the surface during the day and frozen at night.

The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust, on which there are a few centimetres of powder snow in places. The crust bears human weight in places. Only in sheltered spots in gullies is the snow still soft. Snow on wind-exposed sites is heavily wind-packed, the base there is hard and icy. There is little snow in the mountains. Significant snow cover starts at around 1300 m elevation, in gullies at around 1000 m. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m elevation there is about 100 cm of snow, at 1500 m about 50 cm.

Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m about 30 cm. Avalanche danger is mostly grade 1. More dangerous are only sites with wind-drifted snow and steep slopes. There, only with greater loading of the snow cover can you trigger an avalanche. On wind-packed sites there is a risk of slips.

Until Monday dry weather will continue. There will be more cloud and it will cool slightly more. Avalanche conditions will remain almost unchanged. Only in shaded spots in frost hollows may depth hoar form, there the snow cover will become less stable.

New report will be issued on Monday, 30.1.2012.



General avalanche danger is grade 1 on the European five-grade scale.



Source: ARSO