Velocity measurements by means of videogrammetry, video analysis and pulsed Doppler-radar of three selected snow avalanche events are analysed and compared with avalanche simulations. At the test site Vallée de la Sionne (Switzerland) and Ryggfonn (Norway) artificially triggered avalanches were filmed by video cameras to obtain the front velocity of the avalanche. At the monitoring site Grimming/Multereck (Austria) a spontaneous avalanche was measured by the radar system established by the Styrian government (developed by University of Technology of Graz), which provides valuable velocity records along the avalanche path. The analysis showed that the peak velocities of the simulations within the avalanche track were lower than observed. However, in the run out zone the measured and calculated values show good correspondence. For this study it was important to apply only the standard parameters to check the level of agreement with the practical application.