Thaw threatens winter sports: Danger of avalanches in the Alps

Snowfall and icy cold are no longer an issue for the time being. An intermediate high is now dominating the weather, temperatures are above zero degrees. Now it’s thawing a lot.

How much longer do we have to walk through the slush and get our feet wet? And at least some of the snow remains at higher altitudes so that you can go skiing or tobogganing on the weekend?

Meteorologist Dr. Andreas Walter from the German Weather Service (DWD): “In the next few days, an intermediate high will ensure mild temperatures. Except in parts of Schleswig-Holstein and on the edge of the Alps, it remains frost-free. In a day or two, the slush should also have thawed in the east.”

This means that dirty shoes and muddy floors should no longer be an issue by the weekend.

Skiing and tobogganing bad

But it’s not just thawing in the lowlands. Also in the low mountain ranges. Meteorologist Dominik Jung from wetter.net: “It’s hard to believe that there was up to 50 cm of snow in the Black Forest on Saturday and now a strong thaw with rain up there too!”

This means that the prospects for winter sports enthusiasts are anything but shaky: “Not a good one Wetter “In the German low mountain ranges for tobogganing or skiing, because everything is thawed and muddy, even in the higher altitudes,” says Jung. There are only chances of snow in the Alpssaid meteorologist Dr. Walter from the DWD.

Increased danger of avalanches in the Alps

But there too it is deceptive. Jung: “At 1500 meters or higher the snow should still be well preserved. But be careful here Avalanches!“

According to that Bavarian avalanche warning service There is currently a considerable danger of avalanches above 1800 meters. Below that it is at least moderate. There is particular danger on steep slopes. There is an additional danger from wet snow; at medium altitudes between 1000 and 2000 meters, slabs of snow can spontaneously come off. It was only on Tuesday that there was a 12-year-old in Austria from an avalanche been killed.

There is also danger on the ice surfaces: What was still stable at the weekend can quickly become a death trap due to the thaw. The police and fire brigade warn urgently against entering ice surfaces on bodies of water. The mild weather and rain have weakened them considerably.