Veľká Fatra

Beware of wind-blown snow pillows!

In the Low Tatras and the Fatras there is a low avalanche danger (1st degree of the 5-part international scale). The danger here is posed by the leeward sides (NE-oriented) of ridges (NE-oriented) with steep to extremely steep slopes (above 35°), where the strong winds of recent days have transported large amounts of snow. At these locations there are snow pillows and slabs whose stability is difficult to estimate. Their loosening is possible with high additional loads (e.g. foot traffic, skier's fall, etc.). In these mountains, the snow cover has stabilised due to the warming during Wednesday and the subsequent cooling. Avalanche danger increases with altitude.

The height of snow cover in the Fatras is around 10 to 30 cm of snow, in the Low Tatras it is up to 70 cm of snow. The snow is very unevenly distributed due to the wind. The ridges are blown into the hard ground. In the lower altitudes below 1300 m above sea level there is no continuous snow cover yet. On the windward sides the snow is blown down to the subsoil, and on the leeward slopes there are snow pillows and slabs of unbound snow. At altitudes below 1800 m above sea level, the surface of the snow turns hard, icy due to a short warming and subsequent cooling.

It persisted through Tuesday, and conditions are expected to cool and freeze and stabilize by Wednesday.