Západné Tatry

Beware of wind-drifted snow at high altitudes. Due to warming, wet snow is a problem at altitudes up to 1800 m above sea level.

Beware of wind-drifted snow at high altitudes. Due to warming, wet snow is a problem at altitudes up to 1800 m above sea level.

In the Western Tatras, in the western part of the High Tatras and in the Mala Fatra there is an CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger in high altitudes, 3rd degree. During the last snowfall 20 - 40 cm of powder snow fell in the region. Due to strong south winds, the snow was transported to the leeward slopes of the northern exposures, where unstable snow slabs, pillows and overhangs are formed. On steep slopes, avalanche release is already possible with a small additional load (one skier). Occasionally, smaller and medium-sized spontaneous avalanches can also occur. The southerly flow has also brought strong warming, which also has an adverse effect on the snow cover, especially at low and medium altitudes (up to 1800 m a.s.l.) On very steep slopes, smaller avalanches from wet snow are expected to occur, both with mechanical loads and spontaneously.

The snow cover is moist to wet due to warming and rain at lower and middle elevations. At altitudes above 2000 m above sea level it will be freezing, here the snow is mostly blown on the leeward - northern slopes, where unstable snow slabs are formed. Above the forest belt there is an average of 100 to 200 cm of snow, which is a relatively sufficient thickness for this time of year. At altitudes up to 1000 m above sea level, there is only 10-20 cm of snow from the last snowfall, with no older snow present.

persistent during the day, gradually decreasing with cooling towards the evening Compiled by Filip Kyzek