Veľká Fatra

Beware of significant warming during the day - snow will become heavier, possible spontaneous avalanches

Beware of significant warming during the day - snow will become heavier, possible spontaneous avalanches

In the Fatras and in the eastern part of the Low Tatras a moderate avalanche danger (2nd degree) is declared above the forest zone. During the last period of snowfall, up to 20 cm of new snow was added, which was transported by strong winds mainly to the southeastern slopes. The warming that has persisted since Thursday has caused significant avalanche activity. The avalanche-prone situation is stabilising due to the warming and subsequent overnight freezing. The main problem will be wet snow on S exposures, especially on steep sunny slopes. Beware, this situation will occur due to the significant warming already in the morning on the eastern slopes. The avalanche situation requires good decisions, avoid steep slopes, watch out for a larger layer of melted firn, but also avoid places where the blown snow from the last snowfall is evident and did not fall with the avalanche in the previous days. In the event of an avalanche release, even medium-sized avalanches, even spontaneous avalanches, are threatened.

The weather during Sunday will be influenced by a pressure high and an inversion, we expect to continue to have very warm and sunny weather. Temperatures will reach positive numbers even at the highest elevations. A crust, or ice layer, has formed on the surface of the snowpack on the S side. On the S side of the mountains, the snow still retains a powdery character. Sunny weather and warming will cause the snow cover to become wetter and the cohesion of the individual layers to decrease, especially as midday approaches. The snow cover remains well below average, especially at altitudes up to 1500 m above sea level.

rising with the arrival of noon, falling in the evening. BL