Snow conditions in the mountains 27.2.2013

On Sunday during the day snow continued to fall, with 10 to 20 cm of snow accumulating. It was then mostly dry until yesterday afternoon, but another 5 to 10 cm of snow fell by this morning. Higher elevations warmed considerably, and today the snowline is at around 1300 m above sea level. The snowpack has been settling continuously, and lower down it has also been melting.

Due to the warming, the snow has somewhat stabilized and bonded together. Prevailing easterly winds have created new drifts, especially in the high mountains.

At 2500 m in the Julian Alps there is up to about 360 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to 270 cm, and at 1000 m around 140 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, snow depth at 1500 m is 110 to 150 cm, at 1000 m around 120 cm. Below 1000 m the snowpack has settled considerably and compacted.

The snowpack is mostly still soft, loose in the high mountains, and deeply penetrable. On wind-exposed sites it is quite wind-packed. Extensive areas of wind-blown snow exist. Numerous cornices are on the ridges. Below 1000 m the snow is south-facing and soft.

Avalanche danger is mostly 3rd degree. On sufficiently steep slopes, a slab of dry, partially bonded snow can release with minimal loading, especially dangerous are sites with wind-blown snow. Individual spontaneous avalanches are possible from sufficiently steep slopes. Also on steep, grassy slopes in the foothills, a wet snow glide avalanche can release.

Today precipitation will cease, followed by a longer period of dry weather. Today and tomorrow it will be mostly cloudy and foggy in the mountains, tomorrow afternoon the sun will shine in the area of the western Julian Alps. It will clear up on the night to Friday. It will warm a bit more, with the snowline at around 1700 m above sea level on the night to Friday. Below this elevation, the snow will crust, settle faster, and transform; meanwhile, especially in areas with wind-blown snow, the snowpack will become somewhat unstable. Snow in the foothills will also be south-facing and may soak through to the ground in places. However, avalanche danger is not expected to increase above 3rd degree.

New report to be issued on Friday, 1.3.2013



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



Source: ARSO