Veľká Fatra

Beware of wind-blown new snow!

Beware of wind-blown new snow!

In the Fatra Mountains and in the Kraljehoľa part of the Low Tatras, a low avalanche danger is declared, i.e. level 1 of the 5-part international scale. New wind-blown snow is deposited in the mainly east-facing mounds on older hard and rough surfaces. Unstable pillows and soft slabs of small thickness are formed. Steep to extremely steep slopes with gradients of more than 35° are a hazard. Small avalanches are likely to be triggered by large additional loads (e.g. foot traffic, skier falls, etc.).

In the Fatra Mountains and in the Kraljehoľa part of the Low Tatras 10 - 30 cm of new snow was added during the last snowfall period (Friday-Saturday-Sunday). In the cold north-westerly flow during these days the air temperature was in the range of -5 to -10 °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 varies between 15 and 60 cm. On leeward, predominantly east and south-facing slopes, the wind-blown new snow is deposited in pillows and soft slabs. These are dangerous on those steep slopes where a thicker continuous snow cover has already been established before this snowfall.

More snow is forecast for tomorrow, but with little precipitation.

Avalanche danger is expected to persist. Compiled by Ivan Chlebovec