Poland closes all trails in Tatras over high avalanche risk
The entire Tatra National Park (TPN) in Poland has been closed to tourist activity as of March 31 due to heavy snow, falling trees and a level-four avalanche risk, officials have said.
"Tatra National Park trails remain closed until further notice due to extremely difficult field conditions," Magdalena Zwijacz-Kozica of the TPN told PAP on Thursday.
"Wet, heavy snow is causing trees to snap under the weight, and the high fourth-degree avalanche risk persists. The situation is being monitored continuously, and we urge everyone to follow official TPN and TOPR [Volunteer Search and Rescue] updates," she added.
The entry ban applies to the whole park, including popular lower-elevation valleys.
A level-four avalanche warning, the second-highest on the five-point scale, indicates a high probability of numerous spontaneous avalanches, including large and very large slides. Experts warn that the snowpack is poorly bonded to the terrain, making any mountain movement "extremely dangerous."
Current measurements show a significant snow accumulation reaching 185 cm on Kasprowy Wierch, 196 cm in the Valley of the Five Polish Lakes and 43 cm in Zakopane mountain resort.
Authorities have appealed for absolute compliance with the ban and the cancellation of all mountain activities. While the trails have been closed since Tuesday, officials said that a reopening for the upcoming Easter holiday period remains a possibility, depending on how weather conditions evolve. (PAP)
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