Západné Tatry

Beware of wind-blown new snow!

Beware of wind-blown new snow!

In the Western Tatras there is an increased avalanche danger for positions above 1700m above sea level, i.e. 2nd degree of the 5-part international scale. In this mountain there is sometimes more than 50cm of new snow in the lee of the mountains. Especially dangerous are the couloirs and couloirs oriented to the northeast, east, southeast to south with a slope of over 30°, the slopes below them are also dangerous! Wind-coiled cushions and soft slabs of new snow can be loosened with just a small additional mechanical load (e.g. by a single skier, snowboarder). It is also possible for small and medium avalanches to release spontaneously, especially where there was already a continuous snow cover before the last snowfall.

In the Western Tatras during the last snowfall period (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) up to 50cm of new snow was added in places. In the cold north-westerly flow during these days the air temperature remained in the range of -10 to -15 °C. The new snow remains powdery and is intensively moved by strong winds, of course it is thus unevenly distributed. The total height of the snow cover above the forest line varies between 40 and 130 cm. On leeward, predominantly east- and south-facing slopes, wind-blown new snow is deposited in pillows and soft slabs, which are dangerous on steep slopes.

Avalanche danger is expected to persist. Compiled by Ivan Chlebovec