Západné Tatry

Generally favourable avalanche situation.

Generally favourable avalanche situation.

In our mountains there is a low avalanche danger above the forest zone, except in Veľká Fatra, where there is no avalanche danger. The main avalanche problem is the permanently weak layer. The shady orientations and the northern slopes of our mountains are therefore particularly dangerous. Avalanches can only be released here with a large additional load and only on very steep slopes. Mostly small avalanches are expected, which pose a risk after release, especially in combination with terrain traps (protruding rocks, terrain depressions or rock precipices).

The snow cover has melted in most of our area due to the plus temperatures. The surface is a hard crust with critical layers of square-grained snow underneath. Water ice in valleys and on access paths. The ridges have been blown into hard to rocky ground by the strong winds of the previous days. On average there is between 15 and 30 cm of snow in our mountains. Locally up to 50 cm. The least snow is found in Veľká Fatra where there is virtually no continuous snow cover.

Due to the wind, the avalanche situation in our area will gradually worsen.