An avalanche on a closed ski route in Fiss in the Tyrolean district of Landeck on February 18th.Image: APA/APA
Feb 19, 2026, 1:11 p.mFeb 19, 2026, 1:11 p.m
The danger of avalanches is increasing in Austria. In Tyrol, a further 50 centimeters of new snow could fall in isolated cases by this Friday, said Matthias Walcher from the state’s avalanche warning center.
He warned urgently against tours in open terrain. “It is a very dangerous time for winter sports enthusiasts away from the slopes.” Even seemingly harmless, moderately steep terrain can be deceptive, Walcher continued. It is always possible that avalanches triggered on steep slopes also reach these areas.
In Tyrol alone, more than 30 avalanches were counted in one day on Wednesday. Three people were killed in Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Two of the dead came from the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg, police spokespeople told the German Press Agency. The third victim comes from the Netherlands.
Strong winds bring snow
According to the experience of many older mountain guides, the build-up of snow layers has not been so unfavorable for decades, said Walcher. The winter, which initially had little snow, meant that no good foundation was formed. It has only recently snowed a lot in the Alpine region.
The new rainfall is also accompanied by strong and stormy winds, which makes things even worse due to the snow being transported. The warm front expected from the weekend will not lead to any relief. “That’s not in sight,” says Walcher.
In one of the avalanche accidents on Wednesday, two ski hikers in the Tyrolean Navistal were already on their way back due to the danger of avalanches when they were hit by a snow slab. One of the two was completely buried and died. The 43-year-old comes from the Ostalbkreis.
Son alerted the emergency services
The second German died in the state of Vorarlberg. The 42-year-old snowboarder from the Lörrach district was off-piste with his 15-year-old son in the Sonnenkopf ski area, the police reported. The father was swept away by an avalanche. The son alerted the rescue workers, but his father could only be found after an hour and died at the scene of the accident.
Another avalanche death was reported by the police in Fiss in Tyrol. The 71-year-old Dutchman was not wearing an avalanche search device, which can make finding him easier in an emergency. (sda/dpa)