Tatra Mountains. Weather in the mountains. Difficult conditions. Snow, mountain and blizzards

For the first time this season, the Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue Service (TOPR) issued the first, lowest level of avalanche danger on Friday evening.

– In connection with the forecasts snowfall in the Tatra Mountains, the first avalanche danger level applies from an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level. In a few places there may be small pockets of blown snow, which should be avoided. Due to the changing wind direction, such a situation may occur at all exhibitions – warned the TOPR officer on duty.

When planning a trip to higher parts of the mountains, please read the avalanche warning on the TOPR website.

The first degree of avalanche danger means that the snow cover is generally well bonded and stable. Triggering an avalanche is generally only possible with a large additional load, in a few places on very or extremely steep slopes. Small and medium-sized avalanches can occur spontaneously.

There is 12 centimeters of snow on Kasprowy Wierch, but as a result of strong winds, large snowdrifts and overhangs have formed. More snowfall is forecast in the Tatra Mountains in the coming days.

It has already been reported that conditions in the Tatra Mountains are not safe. On Friday at noon, mountain gusts exceeded 100 kilometers per hour.

“Many trails above the upper forest line are invisible due to blown, untrodden snow. In some places, the wind has created deep drifts, where the snow reaches above the knees,” the release said.

As it was added, “in the ridge areas, the low cloud ceiling limits visibility and makes orientation in the area difficult.”

Icing has already appeared on some trails, such as the green trail near the Siklawa Waterfall, as well as in the vicinity of Czarny Staw pod Rysami and around Morskie Oko. The lower trails are also slippery, especially in the morning. There is mud, puddles and a thin layer of wet snow here and there.