Snow conditions in the mountains 5.1.2011

Dry and cold weather continues. The snow cover has not changed significantly since Monday. It has settled a bit more, but transformation is slow, slightly faster on sun-exposed slopes.

In the Julian Alps there is around 370 cm of snow at 2500 m, and around 100 cm at 1500 m. Elsewhere in our mountains around 30 cm at 1500 m. Lower down considerably less. The snow cover is mostly covered with a crust formed by wind, on sun-exposed slopes and lower also due to melting and rain. On this crust there is dry snow, the quantity depends on altitude and also geographical location. On wind-exposed sites this dry snow is largely wind-packed, often down to the crusty base, while in lee areas there are drifts.

Avalanche danger in the high mountains is level 2. An avalanche can be triggered by significant additional stress especially at sites with drifted snow and on steeper slopes. Lower down the danger is level 1. Primarily on scoured sites and at lower altitudes there is a risk of gliding.

Weather will change in the coming days. Today temperature will still remain below zero, tomorrow with inflow of warmer air the freezing level will rise. By evening it will be around 1000 m almost everywhere, in the east even above 1500 m. Today southwesterly wind will blow, strengthening in the afternoon and tomorrow. Minor precipitation will occur tomorrow in the hills of northern Primorska, Notranjska and Julian Alps. Elsewhere mostly dry. Until Friday morning snow in high mountains will remain dry or frozen, lower down it will settle. Avalanche danger will not change until Friday morning.

The next report will be issued on Friday, 7 January.



General avalanche danger is moderate, i.e. level 2 on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO