Climate

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Hollow parts of the National Park are characterized by mild dry or wet climate with an inversion of temperatures. Average January temperatures fall to -3.5° up to -6°C, July temperatures rise to 14,5° up to 18°C. In Liptovský Hrádok the extreme low temperature has been measured - 38°C and an absolute maximum in Brezno reached 36.5°C. The highest situated meteorological station in Chopok in the height of 2000 m above the sea level reports the average year temperature - 1,2°C.

The amount of rain, just like the air temperature, is generally influenced by altitude. While in a ridge level a year amount of rain exceeds 1400 mm /On Chopok up to 1600 mm/, in valleys it is a little less than 900 mm. Rain conditions also depend on localisation because during prevailing flows of wet air in Slovakia more rain occurs in a west part of the mountains. For example in the Staré Hory an annual amount of rain reaches about 1020 mm while in Brezno about 720 mm with comparable sea level.

Snow cover in basins lasts about 60 days a year, in hill territories up to 130 days. In shadow glacial kettles on the north part of Ďumbier snow lasts up to 200 days and in some parts till a half of July. The observed places report an absolute maximum of snow amount 295 cm in Kosodrevina. A high amount of snow in a high mountain terrain is a basic precondition for avalanches. In the Low Tatras there are about 654 avalanche lanes reported.

Air circulation usually has very variable directions due to a local relief shape. South circulation dominates but there are also frequent winds from the north-west and south-west. The higher altitude it is, the higher speed of wind is reported so on Chopok /2023 m above the seal level/ a year average reaches 9,6 m/s, in Jasná /1200 m above the sea level/ only 1,2 m/s.

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