Author: Jeffrey McCabe

Favorable avalanche situation, generally low danger All week long, extremely steep terrain was skied throughout Tirol without avalanches getting triggered. At the same time, stability tests have shown a snowpack which is low in tensions, highly stable. In short: this is a favorable avalanche situation. Very few avalanche prone locations Dry loose-snow avalanches in extremely…

 Snowpack with few tensions Snowpack analysis and reports from the field reveal that the snowpack is generally low in tensions in the interim. For that reason this blog will deal primarily with the positive aspects of the situation. On shady slopes there is powder for skiing widespread, while on sunny slopes at least up to…

Still weak layers in old snow in places Through snowpack analysis, stability tests and snowpack computer models we have been able to follow the development of the persistent weak layer since the beginning of the month. It has become clear that the danger zones are continually diminishing in frequency, but that under unfavorable circumstances avalanches…

 Turbulent… …that is doubtless the word which best describes current weather conditions. Precipitation (snow, followed by rain up to 2500m), gale-strength winds, fluctuating temperatures.  Fresh snow on 15.02.2022. Rising temperatures. Storm-strength winds. (southern East Tirol) 24-hr overall fresh snow 15-16 February (up to 40 cm on Carnic Ridge in southern East Tirol) Precipitation on 17…

 Avalanche accident Schafseitenspitze, 13.02.2022 Today, 14.02.2022, together with the Alpine Police we were below the Schafseitenspitz in the western Tux Alps in order to carry out orderly accident analysis. Support from the State Helicopter (photo: 14.02.2022) Course of accident At the time of the accident there was one person on the summit of the Schafseitenspitze, a…

16 avalanches reported to Headquarters Tirol since Thursday, 10.02.2022 In two avalanche accidents persons were gravely injured. One was on Saturday, 12 February, in Kaunertal Glacier Ski Area freeriding terrain between Weißseejoch and Krummgampental, where a person in the descent was caught by a slab and remained atop the snowpack surface due to released avalanche-airbag. Slab…

Danger zones often unrecognizable A persistent weak layer is characterized by a weak layer which ‘persists’ inside the snowpack, resulting in danger zones where avalanche prone locations are undetectable outside the snowpack. It is possible to localize such places only through systematic snowpack analysis and by perceiving the alarm signals (‘whumpf’ noises, triggered avalanches, fracture…