Západné Tatry

Due to the warming, WET SNOW on sunlit slopes is becoming a major problem.

Due to the warming, WET SNOW on sunlit slopes is becoming a major problem.

Moderate avalanche danger in the high altitudes of the High, Western and Low Tatras, 2nd degree. During the day, small to medium-sized spontaneous avalanches from wet snow may occur on steep, sunlit slopes. On north (shaded) slopes, in couloirs, under saddles and rock walls, there are hard snow slabs and pillows that are not sufficiently bonded to the ground. Avalanche release in these areas is possible, especially with high additional loads.

The snow cover is very heterogeneous, there is a layer of newer snow from the last snowfall, which has been very unevenly distributed due to the strong winds. In leeward places it reaches up to 30 cm in places, elsewhere it is completely absent and the surface is made up of older frozen snow. As a result of the warming temperatures and sunlight, a crust is beginning to form on the southern slopes and, conversely, during the day the snow is turning damp to wet. On the northern slopes, the snow remains dry, often deposited as hard slabs and pillows. Locally, loose powder snow still occurs. There is only patchy snow cover at altitudes up to 1400 m above sea level.

slight deterioration during the day on sunlit slopes