Snow conditions in the mountains 10.2.2012

On Wednesday and Thursday the weather was dry, with isolated snow showers overnight into Friday. It was cold, with no strong wind. The new snow hardly transformed and remained light and dry, only on sun-exposed slopes at lower altitudes did it crust slightly on the surface during the day.

The snowpack is loose and soft. On wind-exposed spots the new snow is completely scoured to the old base, where the base is hard and icy. There are many wind slabs and slabs.

The snow cover reaches the lowlands. In the Julian Alps at 2500 m there is about 100 cm of snow, at 1500 m about 60 cm.

Elsewhere in our mountains at 1500 m about 50 cm. Avalanche danger is level 2. Mainly dangerous are areas with wind-deposited snow and steep slopes. There you can trigger an avalanche even with minor additional load on the snowpack. Slabs also cannot take much load. No spontaneous avalanching expected. On scoured spots there is danger of slips.

Overnight into Friday it cooled significantly in the mountains again. It will be cold all weekend. Easterly and northeasterly wind will strengthen.

Occasionally light snow. Somewhat more snow may fall on Pohorje and in the eastern part of our mountains, possibly more than 10 cm, elsewhere less. The wind will blow the new dry and very light snow into wind slabs mainly on the west and south sides of ridges and passes. Avalanche danger will increase slightly, mainly areas with wind-deposited snow will be dangerous.

New report will be issued on Monday, 13.2.2012.



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



Source: ARSO