I would like to clearly say that it is very dangerous

Why is the avalanche situation is currently so dangerous?
First of all I would like to say clearly that the current Situation is very dangerous. We have a stage 5 to a very large avalanche spread risk, the highest level that we have. Especially in the North-East in the last two weeks very much snow. Yesterday and today, massive snowfall came in again with a lot of Wind. The goods, so to speak, flakes of snow, which brought the barrel to Overflowing.

How long the Situation persists?
We expect the precipitation to stop in the night. With the end of rainfall, the risk generally decreases. Whether the effect on the Avalanche danger, we will decide today, at 17 o'clock respectively in the morning at 8 o'clock.

warning level 5 is rather rare, it was for the last time last January, and in the avalanche winter of 1999 over a large area-of-date. What's the difference then?
This Time, a violent short event. Last year, it was a continuous event. And in 1999, we had several weeks in precarious conditions. Weather-wise, the situations are very similar. In all of the North-West was ruled to be a traffic jam situation. This means that very moist air from the North moves West, to Switzerland and to the Alps is jammed. This results in massive traffic jam of rainfall. In 1999 and last year, several of such trays. Still, it looks as if soon more will follow.

images: avalanche situation in Switzerland

If you are now in the mountains, what to look for?
There are in all of the regions of local security services. If these roads, winter wall block paths and slopes, or homes to evacuate, it is important to do so. That one is not in such precarious conditions, in addition to the runway, it should be clear.

As a Tourist, I must rely on the people on-site intervention, if it is dangerous?
There is anywhere local avalanche services, and have access to a whole network of observation and measurement stations, and to exchange with us. You can rely on the fact that the authorities are well informed and the necessary safety measures. To this one must keep.

"In the meantime, we have much more infrastructure and a lot more people in the mountains and it happens much, much less."

On the Schwägalp were locked Hiking trails, but the Hotel was not evacuated. You have underestimated the Situation?
Obviously, one was surprised by the avalanche. She was really great.

The Hotel is partially in a Zone of medium risk. How often buildings, Railways, or roads of an avalanche.
If you look for a long time – we record the last 80 years, avalanche accidents, we can say the following: in the past, there were a lot of avalanche victims in settlements and on roads. In the meantime, we have much more infrastructure and a lot more people in the mountains and it happens much, much less. A large proportion of the fatal accidents that are happening today, in the free ski area, so in addition to the slopes. We have reduced the risk on roads and in settlements is very strong through Avalanche barriers, explosives, and better Information and mapping of hazards. However, a minimal residual risk remains, simply, if you are in the mountains.

As a layman, you get the feeling it has something to do with climate change.
weather and climate are two different things. The climate always refers to average values. But there is no average avalanche risk. It is always from the current weather conditions and the previous history of the weather-dependent.

In two weeks, the skiing begin. Can I still go skiing?
skiing on the slopes, you can at any time. If a runway is open, you can go even today to Ski. This is handled as in the case of a road, the operator must secure from natural hazards. And otherwise, he leaves you, and then you need to take note of the blocking. Who remains on the Piste, can be unabashedly into the mountains. Who wants to be next to the Piste, you need experience in the assessment of avalanche danger. You can't learn in two weeks. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 14.01.2019, 14:39 PM