Avalanche danger increases

Tyrol warns: Lots of snow, great avalanche danger

The Fernpass had to be closed in the morning.

(Bild: Land Tirol Webcam)

It has been pouring down like a bucket since Tuesday morning in Innsbruck, for example, and snow and/or chains were compulsory in other places. The Fernpass even had to be closed in the morning! Increased caution applies in Tyrol - but not only on the roads! The avalanche warning service has issued the second-highest avalanche danger level (level 4 - high avalanche danger) for parts of the province due to the forecast amount of fresh snow of over 50 centimetres in places.

There has been heavy snowfall since the morning hours, especially along the B179 Fernpass road. The road was covered in snow in places. The snow clearing services could barely get through in places. In the morning, the B179 finally had to be closed to all traffic between Lermoos and Nassereith. "Vehicles kept getting stuck, especially on the Imst side. The emergency services were in the process of recovering the vehicles and clearing the road again," the regional traffic department told the "Krone" shortly before 10.30 am.

The closure was finally lifted again at around 11.15 am. All vehicles were recovered and traffic was moving again. For the time being, however, it continued to snow heavily in places.

Snowfall on the Fernpass.

(Bild: Land Tirol Webcam)

On the Arlberg Pass near St. Christoph early Tuesday morning.

(Bild: Land Tirol Webcam)

Snow chains compulsory on the Arlberg Pass
It was also wintry on the roads elsewhere on Tuesday morning. Snow chains were compulsory on the B197 Arlberg road and the B180 Reschen road, for example. It was also deep winter in Ötztal, as the following video shows:

There have been no major problems on the Brenner highway (A13) so far. According to the provincial traffic department, it started to snow heavily in the Wipptal valley in the morning after some initial rain. The webcams showed that traffic was moving. The snow clearing services are in constant use.

Avalanche danger increases dramatically
Large amounts of fresh snow are also increasing the risk of avalanches in the mountains. The main areas affected are the west of North Tyrol, the regions along the main Alpine ridge and the western regions of East Tyrol. The avalanche danger in all other regions of Tyrol is partly at level 3 (considerable avalanche danger) or level 2 (moderate avalanche danger).

Accordingly, the avalanche warning service of the province of Tyrol appeals for extreme caution away from secured pistes.

The avalanche danger is increasing on the mountains!

(Bild: Rauth Hubert)

Wind exacerbates the situation
"Winter is returning with lots of fresh snow and sometimes strong winds, which are known to be the master builders of avalanches. That's why I'm urging you to exercise the greatest possible restraint, plan your tours carefully and stay on secured pistes in the coming days - especially in the particularly critical regions," emphasizes Tyrol's Safety Councillor Astrid Mair (ÖVP).

The combination of snowfall and strong winds leads to a significant increase in avalanche danger during the course of the day.

Patrick Nairz vom Lawinenwarndienst des Landes Tirol

Danger increases during the afternoon
Patrick Nairz from the avalanche warning service of the province of Tyrol explains: "The danger is considerable in the morning above the tree line, i.e. level 3 on the five-point danger scale. In the afternoon, the danger then rises to danger level 4, i.e. high avalanche danger, in the regions with lots of fresh snow. We then expect increased spontaneous avalanche activity."

Snow line between 800 and 1100 meters
What's next for the weather? According to GeoSphere Austria, Tuesday will be "cold and wet throughout Tyrol with moderate to heavy rain and snowfall." The snow line will be "between 800 and 1100 meters depending on the intensity", tending to be slightly higher on the main ridge and in East Tyrol in the morning. The intensity should decrease from the west during the afternoon.