Západné Tatry

Wind-wound cushions are found in high mountain gullies and moguls and pose a risk on steep to extremely steep slopes.

Wind-wound cushions are found in high mountain gullies and moguls and pose a risk on steep to extremely steep slopes.

A small avalanche danger prevails at the highest altitudes. High-lying couloirs and couloirs where new snow is blown by the wind on top of the old base are the main risk areas. The snow cushions thus formed are clearly distinguishable from the old base and their release is possible mainly at high additional loads, shaded steep slopes. With warming up to higher altitudes, the wind-blown cushions become heavier and occasionally smaller spontaneous slab avalanches or avalanches may occur. Smaller avalanches and avalanches of wet snow may occur at mid-altitudes as the weather warms up. Due to the relatively small amount of snow, the expected size of avalanches is small.

Snow depth is below average and snow is unevenly distributed. In high mountain narrow couloirs, locally larger amounts of snow may be blown. In such places there are smaller slabs and snow pillows of blown snow lying on top of older frozen layers. Warm air inflows will peak with the zero isotherm rising above 2500 m a.s.l. The snow surface is crusty in many places later in the day and will become waterlogged and lose cohesion as a result of warming.

Slightly rising during the day as the day warms up.