Category: Current situation

 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…

Lots of fresh snow and wind. High avalanche danger! Over the last few days there has been snowfall in far-reaching parts of Tirol, focal point in the northwestern regions. Since Sunday, 14 March, about 100 cm of fresh snow has been registered there, more from place to place. In addition, strong-velocity winds were blowing amid…

 Weather review. And a peek ahead. Last week was variable. A cold front from the northwest brought 10-15 cm of fresh snow widespread in North Tirol and northern East Tirol on Thursday and Friday, 4-5 March. Locally exceptions were startling: in the central Lechtal Alps and Venediger Massif there was 30-50 cm of fresh snow…

Favorable avalanche situation all last week Last week was favored by a positive avalanche situation, generally lower avalanche danger levels and correspondingly fewer avalanche prone locations. This was primarily due to the very stable high-pressure weather front. The atmosphere was unusually dry, temperatures somewhat lower than the previous week, nighttime skies clear and star-studded. Thus,…

 Springtime conditions The beautiful weather and clear nights will give us classic springtime conditions starting on Sunday, 28 February. In early morning, conditions are favorable. Avalanche danger subsequently increases somewhat due to daytime warming and solar radiation. Naturally triggered avalanche activity has receded compared to last week. Winter sports enthusiasts can still trigger slab avalanches,…

 Numerous naturally triggered avalanches Numerous avalanches unleashed naturally in Tirol during this last week. These occurred primarily on steep, sunny slopes up to altitudes of approximately 2700 m. Wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches were frequently observed below about 2400 m. Deposits of fresh wet-snow avalanches on Fliesser Berg, south, 2100 m (photo: 23.02.2021) Slab, glide-snow and loosely-snow…

Snowpack forfeits firmness due to water seepage As a result of above-average temperatures and solar radiation, a progressive wetness of the snowpack can be observed. This applies particularly to sunny slopes below 2600 m, shady slopes below 1800 m. Indicative of the current situation: steadily rising temperatures over the last few days. Snowpack-surface temperature is…

Coming soon: a stable high-pressure weather front According to ZAMG Weather Service forcasts, high-pressure conditions will increase ongoingly over the next few days. On Friday, 19.02, a cold front over Germany will send some clouds to Tirol. Starting on Saturday, 20.02, a stable high-pressure weather front will take over the reins. The zero-degree level is…

 Fresh, trigger-sensitive snowdrifts The combination of cold temperatures, loose, dry fluffy fresh snow and wind reinforces the forming of trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. These are currently most wide-ranging in East Tirol and the southern Ötztal Alps where recent snowfall was heaviest. With some experience in assessing dangers on-site, these spots are easy to recognize and circumvent.…

 Attention: daytime avalanche danger cycle At the moment (4 February) we are experiencing an unseasonably warm weather phase. The snowpack at low and intermediate altitudes, which was already moist, is slowly becoming thoroughly wet. On sunny slopes the moisture content of the uppermost layers is marching forward, up to higher altitudes. More moisture in the…