Snow conditions in the mountains 6.5.2011

After Tuesday's passage of the cold front, the weather in the mountains was dry and cold. The snow line was initially at an elevation of 1500 m, and has gradually risen to 2500 m by today. The snow cover melted at lower elevations, but in the high mountains, the snow hardened during the day and froze at night. On the highest peaks, the snow in the gullies remained frozen all day.

In the Julian Alps there is up to about 270 cm of snow at 2500 m, rapidly less at lower altitudes. There is considerably less snow in the Karawanks and Savinja Alps than in the Julian Alps, where the ridges are mostly bare even above 2000 m.

Avalanche danger is level 1. The snow is well transformed and stable. In the morning and part of the forenoon, the surface is hard with a risk of slipping; in the higher parts of the high mountains, the surface remains hard most of the day.

It will remain dry until the end of the week. The snow line will be around 2600 m above sea level today, tomorrow above the highest peaks. On Sunday it will drop back to 2600 m. The snow cover in the high mountains will disappear only slowly. It will freeze at night and soften during the day.

Due to lack of data, we are concluding regular reporting on snow cover conditions in the mountains. We will resume issuing reports after 15 November, or earlier in case of heavier snowfall.



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



Source: ARSO