Snow conditions in the mountains 30.1.2012

Dry and cold weather continues. Snow conditions have hardly changed. The snow remains dry and frozen.

The snowpack is mostly covered with a crust, on which there can be a few centimeters of powder especially in sheltered spots. The crust bears human weight in places. Only in sheltered gullies is the snow still soft. On wind-exposed sites, the snow is heavily wind-scoured, the base is hard and icy. There is little snow in the mountains. Significant snow cover starts at around 1300 m a.s.l., in gullies at around 1000 m. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m a.s.l. up to about 100 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to about 50 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m up to about 30 cm. Avalanche danger is level 1. More dangerous are only places with drifted snow and steep slopes. There an avalanche can only be triggered with greater load on the snowpack. On scoured sites there is a risk of slips.

It will remain cold. There will be more cloudiness. Especially on Thursday snow may fall, but the amount will be negligible. Temperature will be below zero everywhere all the time. Snow conditions will not change. In areas of persistent frost, depth hoar development is possible.

New report will be issued on Friday, 3.2.2012.



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



Source: ARSO