Snow conditions in the mountains 9.2.2011

In recent days, it has been warm and sunny in the mountains. The snow cover has become crusty during the day and frozen at night. The surface crust has strengthened. In shady areas, the snow remained dry and poorly transformed.

In the Julian Alps, there is about 340 cm of snow at 2500 m, and about 90 cm at 1500 m. Elsewhere in our mountains, there is about 15 cm of snow at 1500 m. The surface is mostly covered with crust that holds human weight in the morning but softens during the day. In gullies, there is still powder snow in places, and any crust is thinner. On wind-exposed areas and in shady locations at lower altitudes, the snow is icy in places.

Avalanche danger is level 1. Slip hazard is especially in the morning and part of the forenoon, while in the midday and afternoon on sunny slopes the snow softens and a hiker or skier can slip on a thin layer of softened snow.

Last night it cooled in the highlands. The freezing level is at about 1300 m above sea level. There will also be no major change tomorrow.

Thus, the snow cover will soften only on sun-facing slopes in the midday and afternoon, while in gullies the snow will remain dry or frozen.

Even on sun-facing high mountain slopes, the snow will not soften as much during the day as in recent days. Transformation will be slower, faster only in the mid-mountains. Avalanche conditions will not change much by Friday morning.

The next report will be issued on Friday, February 11.



General avalanche danger is low, i.e., level 1 on the European five-level scale.



Source: ARSO