Overview of avalanches in the last two days
Our long-term experience has again been confirmed during the last two days: most avalanches involving persons occur when danger level 3 (“considerable”) prevails.
Tirol headquarters had no fewer than 21 avalanches reported on 19-20 March. This high number is also due to the high degree of conscientiousness on the part of winter sports enthusiasts to report negative avalanches as well. Many thanks for this!
Rough analysis shows that most of these avalanches unleashed (or were observed) at altitudes between the treeline and about 2400 m in all aspects. Frequently they triggered near ridgelines, sometimes in mid-slope (often an indicator of danger pattern dp.3, cold-on-warm). The weak layer may have been expansively metamorphosed (faceted) crystals near crusts or weak layers where snow was shallow. In one avalanche on Mittagskopf in the Samnaun Massif today (20.03), a person suffered an arm injury. The remaining avalanches ended without injury.
Here is a list of the reported avalanches and some initial information:
19.03.2021:
Seefelder Spitze (Karwendel): skier could exit; W, appx. 2100m
Gilfert (Tux Alps): 150-200m wide, northeast of ridge
Hoarbergkar (Tux Alps): 60-70m wide, 300m long
Birgitzköpfl (Stubai Alps): NW, 2000m
Kreuzjoch / Gerlos (Kitzbüheler Alps)
Axamer Kögele (Stubai Alps): 100m below summit, NE, 30m wide, 100m long
Kleiner Beil (Kitzbühel Alps): cornice collapse, 10m wide, 50m long
Niederer Burgstall (Stubai Alps): 20-30m wide
20.03.2021:
Lämpersberg (Kitzbühel Alps): 1 person rescued by mountain rescue squad, no injuries
Axamer Kögele (Stubai Alps): 2 avalanchees; 1 person partially buried, no injuries
Wetterkreuzspitze (Tux Alps): E, 200m wide, 400-500m long, possibly naturally triggered
Sumpfkopf (Tux Alps): 150m below summit towards Padasteralm, 50m wide
Kreuzjoch / Mitterwandskopf (Tux Alps): 2200m
Lampsenspitze (Stubai Alps): 100m wide, 40m long, possibly naturally triggered
Mittagskopf (Samnaun Massif): appx. 200m north of summit; 1 person partially buried, arm injury
Plamort (Nauders mountains): 50m long, 20m wide
Wetterkeuzbahn / Hochötz Ski Area (Stubai Alps)
Seblasspitze (Stubai Alps): appx. 400m above Brandstattalm; E-flank, 20m wide, 50m long
Roter Kogel (Stubai Alps): appx. 50m below summit; SE, small slab
Weisser Knoten (Glockner Massif): presumably triggered the day before or earlier
A few observations / photographs of these recent avalanches follow:
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| Seefelder Spitze - 19.03. |
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| Schlick - artificial triggering - 19.03.2021 |
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| Hoher Napf - Tux Alps - person triggered avalanche, was able to exit - 19.03.2021 |
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| Birgitzköpfl - persons in avalanche path - 19.03.2021 |
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| Kalkkögel - loose-snow avalanches - 19.03.2021 |
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| Naturally triggered slab - Maningenbachkogel - Ötztal Alps - 19.03.2021 |
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| Artificial triggering - Sölden Ski Area - 19.03.2021 |
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| Axamer Kögele - ridgeline fracture near ground-level weak layer - 20.03.2021 |
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| Gern - Kitzbühel Alps - avalanche in background - 18.03.2021 |
Winds are intensifying again. Fresh snowdrift accumulations will add a new danger.
The forecasts of ZAMG and our own weather stations show that winds are once again intensifying. The consequence: new snowdrift accumulations will be generated which will be prone to triggering at least on shady slopes and in general at higher altitudes, also near ridgelines.
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| Wind forecast for 20.03, night |
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| Weather station where winds have intensified the most: Vorderegg, rear Ötztal near Vent |
Recently generated snowdrift accumulations remain prone to triggering particularly where faceted-crystal weak layers are in play. This is increasingly the case in the following areas. North: narrow altitude band around 2000m; west-and-northwest, east-and-northeast: between about 2000 m and 2400 m; south: only above about 2300m presumably.
This blog might raise the impression that it is dangerous everywhere. That is not true. Nevertheless, the situation is somewhat treacherous, since danger zones are often hard to recognize. For that reason, we continue to advise: consequently circumvent fresh snowdrifts in steep terrain; and behave defensively, in other words, avoid the steep spots whenever there is uncertainty of avalanche risks.
