Low avalanche danger continues to prevail in Tirol. The possibilities for tours in outlying terrain are still quite limited. Isolated danger zones for slab avalanches occur mostly in high alpine regions, increasingly frequently near ridgelines and behind protruberances in the terrain. The risks of falling often outweigh those of being buried in snow masses. Caution: injury threatens through “sharks” since the snowpack is so shallow.
Favorable avalanche conditions, generally unfavorable touring conditions
Since our last Blog not much has changed, neither in the avalanche situation nor the snow situation and backcountry touring conditions. Avalanche danger continues to be low, the snow continues to be lacking up to highest altitudes, tours in outlying terrain are correspondingly scant.
The weather
When examining weather conditions over the last week, three points jump to view: splendid weather prevailed for the most part, only on 15-16 December was there strong-to-stormy southerly wind and on 17 December a bit of precipitation (mostly rain up to 2000m). The dry-snowfall level (the altitude where snowfall is no longer moist, falls dry from the sky) fluctuated between 2200m and 2500m.
The snowpack
Apart from below-average snowdepths for this juncture of the season, it is the poor snow quality that jumps into view. What is striking is the persistent rain crust that formed as a result of rainfall on 7 and 8 December up to at least 2500m. Breakable melt-freeze crusts and “leg-breaking” snow was the result. In the interim on nights with clear skies, faceted crystals have often formed beneath the crusts. Simultaneously, these crusts are increasingly dissolving on shady slopes, in other words, slowly being “engulfed.”
On sunny slopes, contrarily, the ground is increasingly becoming bare of snow. No wonder, when you consider conditions more reminiscent of spring! Accordingly, the snowpack (where there is one) moistened superficially on very steep sunny slopes during the daytime, then froze over during nights with clear skies so that a melt-freeze crust formed. We received some reports of good firn-snow descents.
Weak layers for slab avalances are currently found mostly in the form of faceted crystals (usually near crusts), occasionally also in the form of near-surface surface hoar blanketed by snowfall. Frequently the slab necessary for slab avalanches is lacking. Foehn-wind impact on 15-16 December generated new, small danger zones.
Weak layers in high alpine regions constitute the exception to a lacking slab, usually in the form of ground-level faceted crystals and rotten snow (often on glacier ice). Triggering this weak layer is currently unlikely, nevertheless it is possible. This was confirmed by an avalanche on Hinterer Daunkopf in the Stubai Alps on 13.12.2025, fortunately without injuries (see photo below).
Currently, the rainfall on 17.12 together with the relatively high temperatures has led to a further moistening of the snowpack up to about 2200m. During the nights of clear skies, a melt-freeze crust has again been able to form on the surface. After the perturbance had passed, reports of surface hoar again reached us.
A few exemplary snow profiles
Generally poor snow quality, danger of “sharks”
Photos speak more than a thousand words…
Avalanches
Following numerous naturally triggered avalanches during the night of 7-8 December (see the last Blog), very few reports of avalanche releases have been reported. The largest of them was triggered by persons on a north-facing slope of Hinterer Daunkogel (3180m, NE) in the Stubai Alps on 13.12. No one was injured.
Assorted information
Crevices are only scantly covered on the glaciers…
A possible alternative…
