Author: Jeffrey McCabe

Mostly favourable conditions Numerous examinations of the snowpack and reports from observers corroborate the assessment: the avalanche situation is improving to an increasing degree. The snowpack is stable over widespread areas. Weak layers are found only in isolated cases, and then, they are near to the surface at very high altitudes in the immediate vicinity…

Lots of snow in the south Precipitation this last week has been unusual. The consequence: above average snow depths for this juncture of the season. “A Winter Wonderland” at the Dolomiten Hut in the Lienz Dolomites. (Photo: 18.11.2019)  At low and intermediate altitudes, massive rain impact on the snowpack. Stubai Alps (Photo: 20.11.2019) The heavy…

High avalanche danger in southern regions What the ZAMG Weather Service has dubbed an “extreme weather situation” is leading to an extraordinary avalanche scenario, with high avalanche danger in general in the southern regions. Danger map of the Avalanche Bulletin for 17.11.2019 The combination of heavy snowfall including storm-strength winds in the heights, and rising…

Today, 14.11, we took advantage of the window of good weather and focused on the snowpack layering, together with our team of observers. Simultaneously, Avalanche Commissions made their first exploratory flights in the regions where snowfall has been heaviest. Snowpack analysis is the basis for correct assessments of danger. (Photo: 14.11.2019) We currently face two…

The precipitation which was forecast by the ZAMG Weather Service has arrived. In the regions along the Main Alpine Ridge from the southern Ötztal Alps eastwards and in East Tirol, 50 to 80 cm of fresh snow have frequently been registered. In southern East Tirol there was generally about 100 cm of fresh snow registered.…

Lots of fresh snow, particularly in East Tirol and along the Main Alpine Ridge, will build up new snowpack depths. As a result, avalanche danger will rise to new heights in those regions. North of the Inn there is comparatively little snow, and less precipitation is anticipated there. Overview of snow depths in Tirol. North…

Just to round out the last blog entry: In the mountains of the Europaregion there is already snow in the heights: Webcam photo from Pejo 3000 m towards Rifugio Vioz-Mantova (07.11.2019) The bad-weather front arrived from the south. Animated depiction of the Zugspitze webcam of the bad-weather front approaching from the south. Throughout the Europaregion…

Highly variable weather conditions have brought some fresh snow to the mountains since the end of October. The snowfall was particularly heavy during the last few days. The amounts of fresh fallen snow in the regions along the Main Alpine Ridge and southwards therefrom were frequently about 50 cm, significantly more from place to place.…

An out-of-the-ordinary winter demands out-of-the-ordinary moments to write a blog…. In the first part: a brief description of the snow and avalanche situation since the end of May. In the second part: a review of the winter through data, facts and graphs. Snow and avalanche situation between end of May and mid-June 2019 There is still…