Caution in the terrain

Avalanche situation on Tyrol’s mountains remains dicey

Above the tree line, there is a widespread level 3 warning.(Bild: Hubert Rauth)

Just how quickly things can happen was demonstrated on Christmas Day on Innsbruck's Nordkette mountain range: a dust avalanche triggered a major operation. In the end, everything turned out quite well. However, the avalanche situation on the mountains of Tyrol remains tense. There is a widespread warning level 3 out of 5.

Above all on the mountains south of the Inn - from the Kaunergrat via the Stubai Alps to the Zillertal Alps and the western Kitzbühel Alps - there is a widespread level 3 above the tree line - i.e. considerable danger.

The danger spots are quite frequent and hardly recognizable even for experienced skiers.

Lawinenwarndienst Tirol

"Avalanches can be triggered in old snow and become large. The danger spots are quite frequent and hardly recognizable even for experienced skiers. Especially above around 2200 meters, the number and size of these danger spots increase," says the Tyrol Avalanche Warning Service.

Caution in open terrain
Tours and off-piste descents require increased caution and restraint. In addition, the "partly snow-covered drift snow accumulations of the last few days are easy to trigger in places, especially on ridges, gullies and hollows." The snow cover remains susceptible to disruption. "Even individual winter sports enthusiasts can easily trigger avalanches," warn the experts.

Avalanche warning level 3 also applies above the tree line in the western Karwendel, in parts of the Außerfern and especially in the Verwall.