Demanding avalanche conditions in Norway-Norway, ask people to stay away from avalanche terrain
A total of seven people were involved in two landslide incidents in Lyngen on Wednesday afternoon. Three people were injured and one person lost his life.
Shortly after the landslides, the police stated in a press release that both groups that were affected were foreign tour companions.
Conditions in the mountains in large parts of northern Norway, especially in Troms, are now so prone to landslides at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) in a message encourages everyone to avoid avalanche terrain as long as conditions are as they are now.
NVE states that in places it is very easy to trigger avalanches. As the situation is now, it is demanding to assess the risk of avalanches for those who go to the mountains to enjoy the snow and fine weather this weekend in the northernmost counties.
Very easy for skiers to trigger landslides
In several regions in northern Norway, especially in Troms, it is very demanding for those who are to travel in the mountains to assess the risk of landslides.
The reason is that there are persistently weak layers of edge grains high in the snow cover, which in several places are very easy to trigger landslides on. For those who go to the mountains by ski, board or scooter, it is very difficult to know where these places are.
– Combined with the fact that there has been a lot of fresh snow, good weather has been reported for the weekend and that it is very easy to trigger landslides in several places, makes this a demanding weekend for those who want to go to the mountains, says Håvard Toft Larsen.
In recent days, Toft Larsen has seen several examples of both remote-triggered and person-triggered landslides.
Significant avalanche danger
This weekend, a significant avalanche danger is expected in several regions, and the avalanche danger is set at level 3.
according to Varsom.no Danger level 3 means that traffic in avalanche terrain requires solid knowledge, experience in route selection and the ability to identify avalanche problems. In general, it is recommended to avoid terrain steeper than 30 degrees and keep a distance to outlet areas.
However, this is not a situation where NVE expects very naturally triggered landslides that reach roads and buildings, but it is a situation that is demanding and confusing for those who go to the mountains to ski, board or snowmobile.
– If you are going to the mountains in Troms this weekend, you must be aware that several places can be very easy for you to trigger landslides that are large enough to bury yourself and your entourage, says Toft Larsen
Avalanches can also be remotely released, which means that you can stand in flat or gently sloping terrain and still trigger avalanches in steep slopes above you.
It is therefore important that you not only avoid steep terrain, but also outlet areas for
The landslide problem is hidden under the snow
What makes the situation extra difficult to assess for those who travel in the mountains is that the landslide problem does not appear on the surface.
There is a persistent layer of edge grain under the jib snow that can lead to landslides, and you can trigger landslides where the surface is just right hard.
– In some places the snowflake at the top is too thick and hard for the weak layer to be affected, while in other places the snowflake is too thin and soft. It is important to avoid the areas where the flakes are thick enough and hard enough. This becomes extra demanding when there are large local differences at a short distance, Toft Larsen explains
Avoid landslide terrain until further notice
It is very difficult to know where to trigger landslides as conditions are now. The call from the Avalanche Warning is therefore clear:
– As the situation in Northern Norway is now, we encourage everyone to avoid avalanche terrain. It will get better with time, but right now there is good reason to apply for less steep terrain, says Toft Larsen.
It can be difficult to assess the steepness when you are out, so we recommend everyone to download the Varsom Regobs app which has steepness maps with outlets that make these areas visible on a map.
Read detailed alerts at Varsom.nofor your area.