Category: Incident
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Avalanche incident analysis Velilltal-Bürkelkopf (15.01.2026)
On 15.01.2026 a person died in the open skiing zone near the secured ski runs of the Silvretta Arena ski area in an avalanche that triggered in very steep terrain. Cause: a marked persistent weak layer. This tragic avalanche incident again confirms the extremely prone-to-triggering snowpack in some regions. Course of events Yesterday, 15.01.2026, a…
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Only gradually receding avalanche danger. Wetterkreuz avalanche incident analysis.
Without much change, we are still faced with an extremely prone-to-triggering snowpack widespread. Reports we receive daily including today, 15.01, corroborate this assessment: reports of avalanche releases from winter sports enthusiasts, of settling noises, fractures on the surface and remote triggerings. Avalanche danger is receding continually, but only slowly. Experience and restraint are thus imperative…
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Sunday, 11.01.2026, numerous alarm signals: avalanche releases, fractures, settling noises, remote triggerings / A fatal avalanche incident
Our forecasts of an extremely trigger-sensitive snowpack on Sunday, 11.01, have been fully confirmed. Among numerous avalanche releases with personal involvement, 1 person was killed and 2 were injured. The regionally delicate avalanche situation and often highly prone-to-triggering snowpack will continue Avalanche releases: an overview Not an ordinary day: at Headquarters Tirol, 15 avalanche releases…
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Avalanche incident analysis: Schalfkogel, Gurgler Ferner (24.03.2025)
On Monday, 24.03.2025, two persons died in an avalanche below the Schalfkogel in the Gurgler Massif. The release was a small slab that initially swept along three persons over rocky terrain and then buried two of them in a crevice at the edge of the Gurgler glacier. Cause: persistent weak layer. How it happened A…
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Avalanche incident Rosskopf (26.12.2024)
On Thursday, 26.12.2024, two persons died in an avalanche incident on the Rosskopf in the eastern Tux Alps. The cause of the incident was a persistent weak layer together with the recently generated snowdrift accumulations deposited on top of it. Circumstances of the incident On 26.12.2024 two groups, independent of one another, were on the…
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Weak old snowpack layers remain prone to triggering. Fatal avalanche incident Rosskopf.
Observations from backcountry and incoming reports about slab avalanches triggered by persons confirm the snowpack’s current high trigger sensitivity regionally. Particularly south of the Inn, avalanches can be triggered in the old snow in some places and grow to dangerously large size. Avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognize. On the Rosskopf in the eastern…
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Ongoing caution: glide-snow avalanches!
Just as expected, since the snowfall of last week numerous glide-snow avalanches have released on steep grass-covered slopes. In the major areas of precipitation, sportively active people need to maintain great heed of possible dangers. Caution: in isolated cases avalanches can plummet down to green zones. The peril of glide-snow avalanches endangers hikers above all…
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Wintery conditions and short-term avalanche activity in the mountains. Avalanche incident Binsalm in Karwendel.
The first onset of winter this season is a knockout: in widespread parts of Tirol, heavy snowfall down to intermediate altitudes. Whereas freshly generated, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require caution at high altitudes, further down high numbers of glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. On the Binsalm in Hinterriss (community of Vomp, in the eastern…
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Niedertal avalanche incident incl. outlook for weekend
On 11.04.2024 a group of 21 people were ascending from Vent through Niedertal towards the Martin-Busch-Hütte. Below the Talleitspitze several persons were caught in a naturally triggering wet-snow avalanche. Three persons died in the avalanche, one was injured. Sequence of occurrences A group of 17 people from the Netherlands and 4 locals intended to climb…
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Analysis of fatal avalanche incident on Bärenkopf
On 09.04.2024 a person died below the Bärenkopf in the eastern Karwendel as a result of a naturally triggered glide-snow avalanche. Sequence of occurrences A hiking group of seven persons climbed from Pertisau am Achensee over the Lärchenwiese district of town into Weissenbachtal in the direction of Bärenkopf (1991m). Below the Bärenkopf the group decided…