Snow conditions in the mountains 8.3.2013

From midweek there has been cloudy and foggy weather in the mountains with occasional precipitation, more frequent in the Julian Alps and foothills. Snow fell up to sea level altitude of around 1700 m. In the eastern Karawanks and on Pohorje it was mostly dry and the sun shone occasionally. The snow line rose to sea level altitude of around 2200 m by this morning. The snow cover settled and metamorphosed more quickly, except higher in the high mountains, and with rain it soaked through to the ground in places and melted. Above the snow line mainly around 5 cm of snow fell in the Julians, but possibly much more in the western Julians. Individual wet snow avalanches released from steep slopes.

At 2500 m in the Julians up to around 360 cm of snow, at 1500 m up to 220 cm and at 1000 m around 80 cm. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m from 70 to 110 cm, at 1000 m around 40 cm. More snow in shady locations than in sunny ones.

The snow cover is mostly wet and softened, only in high mountains it is hard or new snow on a crusty base. Numerous cornices on ridges, on wind-exposed locations snow is wind-packed and the base icy. In the eastern Karawanks and on Pohorje the snow has southerly aspect only due to thawing, higher up it froze overnight.

Avalanche danger is mostly 3rd degree. Below the snow line the snow crusted and soaked, especially in the western part of the Julian Alps and foothills, as quite some rain fell there.

Especially there the possibility of wet snow slab avalanches from steep grassy or leaf-covered slopes increased. Higher up new snow can avalanche in the western Julians. Also elsewhere below around 2000 m the snow partially soaked due to thawing and the possibility of slab formation is increasing.

Today mostly dry, only in the western and southern part of the Julian Alps and hills to Snežnik occasional precipitation, snowing mostly to around 1800 m or even higher. Tomorrow precipitation will spread across all of Slovenia, snow line will lower somewhat, probably below 1500 m. Also on Sunday occasional precipitation. Snow line will lower further. By the end of the week snow will settle and melt, above around 1800 m in high mountains considerable new snow will fall. Wet snow avalanches from steeper slopes still expected, in altitudes with new snow the possibility of fresh snow avalanches will increase.

New report will be issued on Monday, 11.3.2013



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



Source: ARSO