Most of the current avalanche prone locations: in East Tirol and south of Gurgler Group
Snowpack analysis and reports from observers confirm that slab avalanches can currently be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts in near-surface layers above all else.
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| Near-surface weak layer, east-facing slope at 2450 m in Villgratental. Avalanche accident Pürglers Kunke on 06.02.2021 (photo: 07.01.2021) |
Most unfavourable of all currently are steep slopes in E-S-W aspects between 2300 and 2600 m. In that altitude band there is frequently a thin layer of loosely-packed, predominantly faceted crystals (also surface hoar) beneath the melt-freeze crust which formed just before Christmas. Most recent avalanches were triggered in this loose layer.
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| Avalanche Pürglers Kunke on 06.01.2021; E, 2450 m (photo: LWD Tirol on 07.01.2021) |
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One of several slab avalanches which triggered recently in Hochgurgl. Avalanche on 03.01.2021
(photo: 04.01.2021 |
An overview of other recent avalanches, including those registered at headquarters, can be found at
lawis.at.
On shady slopes the surface hoar inside the snowpack can most easily be triggered by large additional loading on very steep slopes. All signs point to this being the case only in few spots, most frequently in a small altitude band around 2200 m and in ridgeline terrain (possibly Nigg Effect?)
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| Blanketed surface hoar in western Tux Alps. Stability tests showed that this layer was no longer triggerable. (photo: 04.01.2021) |
Danger of glide-snow avalanches
Whoever studies glide-snow avalanches knows that they can even trigger in the middle of the night on the coldest day of winter. Currently it is cold, and currently we observe more and more glide-snow avalanches in East Tirol where there is a great deal of snow. They can still bury sections of roads; they can still place backcountry skiers at risk.
In remaining North Tirol, increasing danger zones on shady slopes where snow is shallow
Apart from the regions which recently got so much snowfall, the general avalanche situation is quite favourable. Avalanche prone locations are found primarily on very steep shady slopes in transitions from shallow to deep snow. In those places avalanches can be triggered primarily by large additional loading. The danger zones are not widespread, the releases small-to-medium size.
Characteristic of the current situation in far-reaching areas of North Tirol is a heavily wind-impacted snowpack surface. Also typical is a comparatively shallow snowpack, especially in northern and northeastern regions.
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| A very characteristic photo in northern regions: a wind-impacted snow cover; northern Stubai Alps (photo: 31.12.2020) |
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| Little snow in North Tirol’s Lower Inn Valley (photo: 02.01.2021) |
Snow distribution in Tirol
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| Snow distribution in Tirol: lots of snow in the south, little in the north |
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| In southern East Tirol we currently are above the maximum snow depths ever measured (since 1960).
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An arduous task: shoveling snow from a rooftop. Lienzer basin (photo: 04.01.2021)
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Short review of an avalanche-active period, beginning of January 2021
For a short spell, we assigned high avalanche danger to southern East Tirol at the beginning of the year (3-4 January) due to intense snowfall. To round out our last blog, here are a few images.
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| Typical: many shallow, but sprawling avalanches, Grantspitz Group (photo: 03.01.2021) |
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| Hillside avalanche in Defereggental. Not only road sectors, also playing children were endangered. (photo: 02.01.2021) |
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| Snow released in extremely steep terrain, buried the Felbertauern Road. The repair work is here underway. (photo: 02.01.2021) |
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| Naturally triggered slab avalanche over surface hoar in the Carnic Alps (photo:; 03.01.2021) |
