Windstorm in the High Tatras (2004)
Between 15.30 and 18.00 on 19th November, 2004 dramatic occurrences took place on the southern side of the High Tatras and in the Sub-Tatra basin.
The unusual windstorm with 100-170-km-per-hour wind caused extremely big damage in the stand by windthrow and windfall in a 330 thousand-hectare region including the forests of the Tatras – about 73 thousand hectare of forests altogether. The windstorm destroyed a total of 4.5 million cubic metres of wood (damage of windthrow and windfall), which is near the normal amount of Slovakia’s all-year-long logging.
The extremely strong north-western wind, which also coaused damage in infrastructure, changed the land of Tatras literary beyond recognition. In practice it destroyed the total of the 40-110-year-old stand of the nearly 12-thousand-hectare (2-2.5 kilometres wide and 40-50 kilometres long) forest region fundamentally damaging the whole ecological system of the forest. The hurricane partly changed the ecosystem of the Tatra National Park, its effect on the flora and fauna is incalculable. 25 percent of the 50-thousand-hectare forest managed by the National Park was destroyed mainly on the gentle slopes at the foot of the hills where forests were planted in the 30’s. Experts say devastation was so big that it might even alter the climate of the mountain. The Tatra National Park was practically destroyed and some say it can only be the same again in about 100 years.
Logging of conifers was stopped and entrance to the forests banned in the whole country. The High Tatras have been similar to a lifeless land, the situation is dramatic. The Tatras known by us is no longer existing.
It is sure that not only the forests but also the fauna was swept away by the hurricane which caused irreparable damage in the High Tatras – workers of Tatra National Park (TANAP) have reported. “The region has lost its value without trees and forests” – manager of the Tatra National Park stated adding that the damage is incalculable. What’s more, floods of spring melting caused further erosional damage: without the braking effect of forests melting snow is “travelling” unpredictably, and significant part of soil needed for planting new forests is washed away from the surface of the rocks. Besides forests certain rail lines, skiing centres, ski lifts were also ruined. Downhill courses were covered by logs.