A moderate avalanche danger, the second level of the five-part international scale, applies on Sunday in the High Tatras at positions above 2200 meters above sea level. In Mala and Veľká Fatra, Low and Western Tatras above the forest zone, the danger of avalanches is low. The Avalanche Prevention Center of the Mountain Rescue Service (SLP HZS) informed about it. The avalanche problem is windblown snow from the last snowfall, especially on the northern side of the Tatras.
The situation was complicated by the wind, which created dangerous snowdrifts and pillows. “Avalanche release is possible on steep slopes, especially with a large additional load. On the southern slopes, the situation is stable after the warm weather and subsequent cooling. In the morning, the snow is hard, on the sunlit slopes it softens during the day,” SLP said. On the sunny slopes, the snow got wet and then froze, which stabilized the situation. Dry snow can only be found in high places on shady and northern slopes.
Continuous snow cover is found in positions above 1300 to 1500 meters above sea level, depending on the orientation. The snow in Veľká and Mala Fatra, Western and Low Tatras became wet due to warming and gradually froze with cooling. In several places, the new snow has already completely melted. “Avalanche release in the highest locations is possible only on very steep slopes with a large additional load. Only small spontaneous wet avalanches are rarely possible,” SLP added.
According to him, a continuous snow cover is only found on the northern slopes of the mountains or in the high areas of the Tatras. “The warm weather caused the new snow to melt almost completely and then freeze as it cooled. It softens during the day on the sunlit slopes. Overall, the height of the snow cover is below average,” it added.
