Snow conditions in the mountains 8.4.2011

In the mountains it was sunny and very warm weather. Snow settled and melted quickly. At night it froze mostly only in the high mountains, and not every night.

In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is around 360 cm of snow, at 1500 m around 60 cm. The most snow is in the western Julian Alps. Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m snow is only in gullies.

South-facing slopes are bare up to around 2000 m. The snowpack is currently well transformed and softened, only in the morning in the high mountains it is frozen.

Avalanche danger is mostly level 1, but during the day due to the influence of the sun on south-facing slopes it increases to level 2. An avalanche can be triggered by greater additional load on the snowpack especially on steeper slopes and places with wind-deposited snow. South-facing slopes are more dangerous midday and in the afternoon.

A wet snow avalanche from south-facing softened snow can also be triggered, but only from steep slopes. In the morning the surface can be hard and icy in places.

Sunny and relatively warm weather will continue through the end of the week. The snow line will slowly descend and on Sunday it will be at around 2600 m above sea level. Snow will continue to melt, with slight cooling it will freeze at night somewhat lower than in previous days. Avalanche conditions will not change much.

The next report will be issued on Monday, 11 April 2011.



General avalanche danger is level 2 on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO