In the Slovak mountains, there is a small avalanche danger corresponding to the first level of the five-part international scale above the forest zone on New Year’s Day. The exception is Veľká Fatra, where there is no avalanche danger. The Avalanche Prevention Center of the Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) reported on this on its website.
There is always a thin layer of snow in the mountains. Therefore, shady orientations and the northern slopes of our mountains are particularly dangerous. The release of avalanches is only possible with a large additional load on very steep slopes. Mostly small avalanches are expected, which after release pose a risk especially in combination with terrain traps (protruding rocks, terrain depressions, or rock cliffs).
The snow cover is mostly settled due to plus temperatures. The surface consists of a hard crust, under which there are critical layers of angular snow. There is water ice in the valleys and on the access paths. The ridges are blown into the hard ground due to the strong wind.
On average, there is 15 to 30, locally up to 50 centimeters of snow in the mountains. Due to the influence of the wind, the avalanche situation in our territory will gradually worsen.
