Západné Tatry

Watch out for slabs of blown snow.

Watch out for slabs of blown snow.

In the High and Western Tatras there is a moderate avalanche danger above 1800 m above sea level (level 2). Up to 15 cm of new snow has accumulated in the high altitudes of the High and Western Tatras. It fell in combination with very strong winds. The wind created slabs and pillows. The danger is concentrated in places where there is old snow under the slabs. These two layers could not bind well due to the low temperatures.

The snow cover consists of two distinct layers. Old, hard snow (crust) and about 10 - 15 cm of new snow. Sometimes even more. Temperatures are dropping below -10°C, so the layers cannot combine well. There is also a large temperature gradient in the snow cover, which can cause dangerous square-grained snow to form. Overall, however, the snow cover on the mountains is below average.

Enduring.