Author: Jeffrey McCabe
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Much powder currently, quite good conditions. Locally, treacherous avalanche situation expected (dp.4 – cold on warm)
New weak layers possibly forming The recent instable weather with its immense temperature fluctuations is giving us a headache. The reason: it provides perfect prerequisites for Danger Pattern “cold on warm” (dp.4). This syndrome is known for forming weak layers inside the snowpack after a certain post-snowfall period. As of today, 15.04.2021, we have evidence which…
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Main danger: fresh drifts and loose-snow avalanches
Temperature progression…far removed from normal Yes, this is April, and April is well known for capricious weather. Even taking that into consideration, we gaze back on a highly ususual sequence of temperature development. Let’s permit an expert at ZAMG Weather Service, Alexander Radlherr, to elucidate just what happened: “The ups and downs in temperature were…
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Onset of unfavorable avalanche situation in north. Receding temperatures reduce wet-snow avalanche risks.
Difficult avalanche prognosis We are at a point in the season where forecasting avalanches is particularly challenging, largely because even miniscule divergencies in meteorological / nivological parameters can have astoundingly big effects on avalanche danger. Specifically, this is the current rostrum of factors which interplay: Nocturnal skies overcast Clouds forming at various altitudes during the…
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Heightened natural triggerings. Plus local old-snow problem on shady, shallow-snow, very steep slopes. Avalanche analysis: Brennerspitze.
Unusually warm: time window shrinking for backcountry tours. Naturally triggered avalanches increasing. We are currently experiencing a phase of unseasonably warm weather. The zero-degree level today lies at 3300m, according to ZAMG Weather Service. Despite nights of clear skies and outgoing longwave radiation with resultant cooling, the snowpack rapidly softens up during the daytime. Avalanche…
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Avalanche accident Brennerspitze in northern Stubai Alps. Caution in coming days: swift daily rise in danger.
Avalanche accident Brennerspitze Today 28.03, an accident occurred below the Brennerspitze in Oberbergtal, a side valley of the Stubaital. One person skiing down from the summit was caught by a slab avalanche, swept along and totally buried. The person needed to be resuscitated and flown to the clinic in Innsbruck. The avalanche accident recalls that…
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Old-snow problem still in places. Generally quite favorable conditions. Avalanche analysis Giggler Spitze.
Today, 25.03, we ventured into outlying terrain in Tirol’s highlands with the Alpine Police. We were able to closely analyze the 24.03 avalanche on Giggler Spitze; observe close-up an avalanche on Hochwanner in Kühtai; and obtain a good grasp of the overall situation from the air . In backcountry with the Alpine Police (photo: 25.03.2021) In…
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Avalanche Gigglerspitze (Samnaun Massif). Heed regional old-snow problem.
Slab avalanche Gigglerspitze Today on 24 March, an avalanche accident occured near the Gigglerspitze in the Samnaun Massif. It was a slab avalanche which triggered as one person was in the descent. Two persons were swept along and injured. The slope is extremely steep in places, faces W-NW. The fracture occurred just below 2500 m.…
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Numerous avalanches involving persons. Intensifying winds generating new, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations
Overview of avalanches in the last two days Our long-term experience has again been confirmed during the last two days: most avalanches involving persons occur when danger level 3 (“considerable”) prevails. Tirol headquarters had no fewer than 21 avalanches reported on 19-20 March. This high number is also due to the high degree of conscientiousness…
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Cumulus clouds + solar radiation reinforce rapid moistening of snowpack surface. Caution: more frequent loose-snow avalanches
Supplement to yesterday’s blog: Caution: loose-snow avalanches In far-reaching parts of Tirol, cumulus cloud build-up is being observed in the mountains. The effect of diffuse solar radiation is thereby enhanced, the snowpack surface swiftly becomes moistened on the surface, despite the unseasonably low temperatures. This reinforces the likelihood of loose-snow avalanches triggering in extremely steep…
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Main danger: recent snowdrifts, often blanketed-over, hard to recognize
Caution: near-to-surface snowdrifts Above 2000m, considerable avalanche danger currently (19.03) prevails. This is due to recently generated snowdrift accumulations which can often be triggered by minimum additional loading in very steep terrain. They occur in all aspects and are difficult to evaluate, partly because of the powder layer on top of them (since the last…