Veľká Fatra

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

Beware of significant warming during the day on southern exposures - 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 over the forest zone from noon. Snow from the last snowfall period was blown by strong winds mainly on the southeastern slopes. Warming that has persisted since Thursday has caused significant avalanche activity. The avalanche-prone situation is stabilizing due to the warming and subsequent overnight freezing. The main problem will be wet snow on S exposures, especially on steep sunny slopes. The avalanche situation requires good decisions, avoid steep slopes, watch out for a larger layer of melted firn, but also avoid places where 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 Monday will be influenced by a pressure high and inversion, we expect the weather to continue to be very warm and sunny. 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. The 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 at midday, decreasing in the evening, weakly decreasing overall BL