Caution: glide-snow avalanches can grow to large size. Daytime avalanche danger cycle!

As expected, we are currently observing increasingly frequent glide-snow avalanches on steep, grass-covered slopes. This is the result of higher temperatures, more intensive solar radiation and the increasing wetness of the snowpack. The melt water penetrates to the base of the snowpack on grass-covered slopes and decreases its friction with the ground.

This applies increasingly often in sunny terrain up to about 2600 m. However, this type of avalanche is repeatedly observed in shady terrain up to intermediate altitudes as well.

Due to the extraordinary depths of the snowpack, glide-snow avalanches can take on great magnitude and have formidable runout zones. For example on 15 February a glide-snow avalanche swept over part of a parking lot at the Eisgratbahn in Stubaital, damaging a few cars. There were no injuries.

Glide-crack below avalanche protection barriers in Paznauntal  (photo: 16.02.2019)

Just a little later, a glide-snow avalanche triggered in that area. (photo: 16.02.2019)

Otherwise the avalanche release scene was quiet, with one exception. We were informed by the Alpine Police about an avalanche accident below the Tschadinhorn in the Schober Massif. Just after 11 o’clock a slab avalanche triggered when a group of backcountry ski tourers were on their ascent in the summit flank. The avalanche was approximately 70 m wide and 270 m long. The depth of the fracture was between 40 and 80 cm. The fracture occurred at 2965 m altitude. The terrain was between 30 and 43° steep and faced southwest. Two persons were swept along and injured. The weak layer consisted of faceted crystals above a melt-freeze crust. Above that was bonded snow. 

Avalanche accident Tschadinhorn in the Schober Massif  (photo: 16.02.2019)