Západné Tatry

New snow blown by the wind

New snow blown by the wind

For the Fatras and the West of the Tatras and the Low Tatras, the 3rd avalanche danger level (increased danger) from the 5-part international scale is declared in the afternoon. This is due to the predicted amount of new snow in the Fatras and Western Tatras of about 50cm and about 40cm in the Low and High Tatras. The layer of new snow is deposited on an already hard frozen surface, which is a good sliding surface. At the same time, the new snow is transported to the leeward troughs and moulds of mainly eastern orientation, where dangerous snow pillows and slabs are formed. Mechanical release of avalanches is likely to be possible on very steep slopes with little additional loading.

During Thursday and Friday, a warm and then a cold front will pass through our area from the west. In particular, the warm front will bring precipitation and the cold front will bring cooling by midnight. Around 50cm of new snow is expected in the Fatras and the Western Tatras, around 30cm of new snow in the Low and High Tatras. The new snow falls on stable hard frozen ground and is transported initially by south-westerly, later north-westerly winds to the leeward slopes. The formation of dangerous snow pillows and slabs is expected in gullies and moguls.

With snow and strong winds, avalanche danger is increasing in all mountain ranges. Compiled by Ivan Chlebovec