Category: Current situation

 To start off:  The persistent weak layer which has persisted for a long period is still of significance for avalanche releases in isolated cases. This was amply demonstrated last week by several avalanche triggerings in which persons were involved. Wednesday, 15.02.2023: negative avalanche Gstreinjöchl, Ridnaun Massif Thursday, 16.02.2023: negative avalanche Pfaffenbichl, western Tux Alps Saturday, 18.02.2023: two negative avalanches…

To sum it up: Danger zones especially in little-tracked shady very steep terrain During the last few days, Avalanche Headquarters Tirol received only isolated reports of avalanches involving persons (no injuries). Moreover, most snowpack analysis in the interim demonstrates a lack of tension inside the snowpack. Thus, we can assume there are only limited avalanche…

Before all else: Besides persistent weak layer problem, daytime loss of snowpack-surface firmness Last week’s biggest threat, the persistent weak layer, remains with us above 2000m. In the interim, frequency of avalanche prone locations where slabs can be triggered has diminished significantly. Avalanches are mostly triggerable on very steep slopes in transition zones from shallow…

 Avalanche time The term “avalanche time” has locked a heavy stamp on the education of Austrian mountain and ski guides. It designates the short period in a winter season which bears far higher risks of avalanches. Just such a period was what we had between 3rd and 6th of February. Within that short time, 8…

Increasingly dangerous,  accident-prone avalanche situation, especially for winter sports enthusiasts To start off: during the next few days, an extremely serious and dangerous situation will develop regionally for winter sports enthusiasts. Starting tomorrow, Friday 02.02, in the eastern regions of Tirol, high avalanche danger will prevail above the timberline. Naturally triggered avalanches are to be…

Cold, loose powder constitutes an explosively reactive weak layer To round out the last blog we want to call your attention to the fact that freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are, as a rule, prone to triggering. This is because of the weak layer consisting of loose, cold powder snow. In wind-protected terrain this is amazingly…

 Main problem: fresh snowdrifts Finally we have reached temperatures which are appropriate to the season. Currently we lie at the long-term mid-level of air temperature measurements for this juncture. Thus, the fresh fallen snow of recent days is frequently loose wherever there was no wind. And where wind was blowing, the fresh snow was swiftly…

 Highly variable conditions The best way to describe the current weather, snow and avalanche situation is with the phrase “highly variable.” Last week was marked by a sequence of warm and cold fronts, repeated snowfall, most of it in the western regions and in northern East Tirol, maximum 50-75 cm, but generally 30-50 cm. Strong…

Fresh snowdrift masses generally small, but very prone to triggering Strong westerly winds are currently raging at high altitudes. They are transporting the few centimetres of fresh snow that fell on 3 January and 5 January. The fresh fallen snow is generating (particularly in wind-protected shady terrain) a potential weak layer for the fresh snowdrift…

 Danger zones hard to spot, even for experts Avalanche danger in the western regions of North Tirol and in northern East Tirol above 2200m and above 2400m continues to be considerable. The underlying problem is the persistent weak layer. That means we are confronted with weak layers in the old snowpack which remain prone to…