Snow Conditions in the Mountains 6.12.2010

On Friday and Saturday, light snow continued in the mountains. 5 to 15 cm of dry snow fell. On Sunday, a strong southwesterly wind began blowing, transporting snow into wind slabs. Temperatures remained below zero everywhere until noon today. The snowpack has settled somewhat. Small avalanches of partially bonded dry snow released from steeper slopes.

In the Julian Alps, at 2500 m there is currently about 290 cm of snow, at 1500 m about 160 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains, at 1500 m about 100 cm of snow. At 1000 m elevation, 50 to 80 cm. The snowpack is soft and powdery and sinks deeply under human weight. Only in wind-exposed areas is there a thin crust that does not support a person. There is considerable wind-transported snow.

Avalanche danger is 3rd degree, 2nd degree in the eastern Karawanks and Kamnik-Savinja Alps below about 1500 m. An avalanche can be easily triggered by additional load, especially in areas with wind slab and on steeper slopes.

Spontaneous release of small and medium-sized loose snow avalanches, as well as slab avalanches, is expected from steeper slopes.

With warming, the freezing level will rise to about 2800 m by tomorrow. Occasionally, mainly in the Julian Alps and western Karawanks, rain below about 2000 m, snow above. The snow line will be lower in the northwest of the country. Warmest on Tuesday night. The snowpack will therefore settle and transform faster.

Initially, it will become unstable, and the likelihood of spontaneous avalanching will increase somewhat, especially in areas where it rains.

The next report will be issued on Wednesday, December 8.



General avalanche danger is considerable, i.e., 3rd degree on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO