Category: Current situation

Some fresh snow and storm winds are ratcheting up avalanche danger After several days of mostly favorable avalanche conditions and low danger levels, the danger will increase somewhat over the next few days. Danger Level map for today 27.01.2022. In far-ranging areas of the Alps, low danger predominates. Starting tomorrow, 28.01, danger will rise slowly,…

The most important message, right off the bat:  In the regions where snowfall has been heaviest, you need profound knowledge of the terrain and of avalanche science, you also have to be calm and restrained when you are in backcountry. Danger zones are widespread, often difficult to recognize, making accidents quite likely. By the way,…

 Fresh snowdrift accumulations: assess them critically! Following a long phase of favorable avalanche conditions, the overall situation is undergoing a change, particularly in the regions where snowfall is heaviest. In the northern and especially in the eastern regions of North Tirol, 30-50 cm of fresh snow is expected by Sunday, 23.01.2022, even more from place…

 Main danger remains fresh snowdrifts Right off the bat: the overall situation is favorable. Caution is urged towards freshly generated snowdrift accumulations. They are likeliest to trigger in very steep terrain, often near ridgelines or behind protruberances. Weak layer: blanketed champagne powder, also faceted crystals over small areas in the vicinity of surface-near melt-freeze  crusts.…

 Cold front spikes avalanche danger Fresh snowdrifts at the main peril A cold front moved swiftly through Tirol today (05.12.2022), bringing fresh snow everywhere. Mostly it was 10-20 cm, in some places 30 cm. That plus the strong winds at high altitudes generated fresh snowdrift accumulations. These are currently the main danger for winter sports…

Warm front led to increased avalanches Short analysis of warm front The warm front forecast by the ZAMG Weather Service for 29.12-30.12 brought widespread 15mm to 50mm of precipitation to North Tirol and northern East Tirol. The focal point of precipitation lay in western and northwestern regions. Initially the snowfall continued for longer than expected,…

High avalanche danger due to new snow, rain, storm winds Updated Avalanche Bulletin from this morning 29.12 shows it clearly: avalanche danger will increase significantly as of this evening, reach Danger Level 4 (“high”)! A warm front will reach us today (29.12) from the northwest, bringing lots of precipitation on the one hand, and stormy…

Persistent weak layer problem: isolated danger zones, esp. on very steep shady slopes Our snowpack analysis and reports from winter sports enthusiasts confirm a persistent weak layer, continually diminishing yet in isolated cases still evident and, all in all, quite delicate to discern. Avalanche prone locations are found especially on very steep shady slopes above…

 Rainfall with multiple effects Heightened glide-snow activity The most startling thing last week was the briefly heightened glide-snow activity from 12.12 until 13.12.2021. The influence of warmth combined with rainfall increased the water content of the snowpack, thereby reducing the resistance to a gliding snowpack over steep grass-covered slopes.    Rain grooves, glide cracks and…

The situation goes on: winter sports enthusiasts advised towards special caution and restraint! Trigger-sensitive snowpack The current weather forecast (wind, snowfall and a warm front coming on Sunday, 12.12) combined with the current snowpack layering make it clear: the situation will stay tense for winter sports enthusiasts. We swing back and forth in danger evaluations…