Author: Jeffrey McCabe

 Peristent weak layer, still not enough snow Starting at about 2000 m there are weak layers of faceted crystals inside the old snowpack. These often border against a crust. Frequently, a “crust sandwich” is observed: a weak layer between two crusts. For a slab avalanche, a hardened, deeper layer is required atop the weak layer,…

 The evil weak layer: cold loose fresh snow Since Saturday 10.12 temperatures have plummeted. For that reason, the snow which fell on Friday through Sunday was often deposited as cold, loose-fluffy powder. For this snow to be transported, very little wind is required. Currently new snowdrifts are accumulating which are being deposited on top of…

Caution: considerable avalanche danger regionally above about 2200m In regions where snowfall has been heaviest, which includes in particular the regions along the Main Alpine Ridge, the avalanche situation is already quite unfavourable. Danger is considerable above 2200m there. This peril is corroborated not only by stability tests, but also by several avalanches which involved…

 Avalanche prone locations on the increase due to wind The snowfall from the beginning of this week (28.11-29.11) fell with little wind influence but is currently being transported far-reachingly by stormy southerly winds. This is causing avalanche danger to increase. The problem: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations. Snow cover examinations and observations in outlying terrain confirm…

 Cold front bringing snow After an initially warm, then variable November it is snowing down to low altitudes in widespread parts of Tirol. The snowfall will be heaviest today (22.11), tomorrow it is expected to taper off everywhere. According to ZAMG Weather Service the main regions of precipitation lie in the Tux and Zillertal Alps,…

Cold front brings snowfall, most in northern Zillertal Alps Over the last 24 hours there has been precipitation throughout Tirol, above approximately 1200 m as snowfall. Maximum precipitation was registered in the northern Zillertal Alps: as much as 40 mm from place to place. Widespread 10-20 mm was registered. This corresponds to approximately 10-20 cm…

At great heights, caution: small-area snowdrift accumulations, loose-snow avalanches, glide-snow slides on grassy slopes. Cool temperatures in late September brings snow to high altitudes Following a warm, summery early September, the latter half was gray, rainy and cool At high altitudes there was frequent snowfall accompanied by strong winds. Some of the precipitation fell as…

First major snowfall of the season in northern regions An autumnal burst of winter has brought us our initiation, above 1200-1500 m the first big snowfall of the season. The major areas of precipitation are focused in the northern regions of Tirol from Arlberg/Ausserfern to the Kitzbühel Alps. From region to region there was as…

Snowpack rapidly becoming wetter According to ZAMG Weather Service, a low over Italy is depositing moist air masses in the lower layers of the atmosphere. Winds are light, conditions variable, prone to showers. Snowfall above 2300 m.  In short: April weather in May. “Steamy” weather, a high degree of moisture is making the snowpack wetter…