Similar to 25.12.2018, the first day of the new year 01.01.2019 as "first fine-weather day" following a period of stormy snowfall is also an accident-prone day.
Snowfall and storm winds:
During the last two days in North Tirol and in northern East Tirol, there has been snowfall accompanied by formidable winds. The focal point of the snowfall was in the Lower Inn Valley and in northern East Tirol, where at high altitudes there was mostly 50 cm, but also as much as 100 cm of fresh snow registered.
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| Top windspeed velocities of 100 km/hr were not seldom in the mountains of Tirol in recent days. A great deal of snowfall was transported. |
Trigger-sensitive snowpack:
Starting at the upper rim of the timberline the snowpack is prone to triggering. This has been corroborated by reports from skiers in these regions on New Year's Eve who observed both settling noises and glide cracks. In the Kitzbühel Alps on 31.12, skiers triggered an avalanche in shady terrain north of the 3S-Station near Jochberg. Nothing serious occurred. At 17:25 a report arrived at headquarters that near the Unterfaister Niederalm near Söll, an avalanche was released. We do not yet have any additional details
We also know that yesterday, 30.12, graupel showers moved over the land. Graupel, which is to say, powder snow blanketed by snowdrifts, currently comprise a rather wide-ranging and primal weak layer for slab avalanches. Secondarily, the faceted layers in the vicinity of crusts can also be triggered. Their typical altitude band: 2200 m to 2700 m, especially in the inneralpine regions and in the northern and central sectors of East Tirol. This includes all aspects. The altitude band in sunny terrain above about 2400 m is especially endangered.
To sum it up:
Whoever is currently in outlying terrain needs to have extensive avalanche knowledge and be defensively active, particularly above the timberline. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations in steep terrain should be circumvented!
Outlook:
Wintery conditions are coming, also in southern East Tirol. For those engaged in winter sports, the conditions above the timberline are frequently treacherous. Additional information will be supplied in the course of the week.
