Snow conditions in the mountains 5.4.2013

On Wednesday it was cloudy and foggy with light snowfall.

Up to 5 cm of snow fell. On Thursday there was slightly less cloud cover, but up to this morning another up to 5 cm of snow fell.

Temperatures in the mountains were below zero all the time, by today the freezing level rose to around 1400 m above sea level. The snow cover settled and transformed. In the high mountains the east wind created wind slabs.

At 2500 m in the Julian Alps around 480 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to 320 cm and at 1000 m from 80 to 100 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains snow depth at 1500 m is from 110 to 160 cm, at 1000 m from around 20 to 50 cm.

Snow on the surface is mostly soft and light, but under human weight it sinks to varying depths. In the high mountains there are many wind slabs and slab avalanches.

Avalanche danger is 3rd degree above around 1500 m, 2nd degree lower. Smaller loose snow avalanches may still release from steeper slopes. An avalanche can be triggered by small additional load on the snow cover on steeper slopes and areas with wind-blown snow.

Today it will still be cloudy and foggy with light snowfall, up to tomorrow morning another around 5 cm of snow may fall, up to 10 cm in the hills of northern Primorska and Notranjska. Tomorrow morning snowfall will cease everywhere, but weather will remain mostly cloudy. Some sun on Sunday and Monday, while it cools slightly at altitude. On sun-facing slopes the snow cover will transform faster, in shaded locations more slowly due to cooling. Avalanche danger will decrease slowly, expected to be 2nd degree with cooling at the start of next week.



New report will be issued on Wednesday afternoon, 10.4.2013.



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



Source: ARSO