On Sunday, almost all of Austria was covered in snow. In Vienna, the Hohe Warte reported 21 centimeters – that’s more than in ten years. In general, December has not been as cold as it is now in many regions in the north and east of the country for several years. And the cold will certainly stay with us until the end of the week.
“For example, in Vienna’s Hohe Warte and St. Pölten, the last time there was a lower temperature in December was thirteen years ago, in Linz eleven years ago and in Eisenstadt nine years ago,” says climatologist Alexander Orlik from Geosphere Austria (formerly ZAMG ). Out Monday. The Linz-Stadt weather station showed minus 10.8 degrees on Monday, St. Pölten reported minus 11.5 degrees, Vienna minus nine degrees Celsius. Minus 7.6 degrees was measured in Eisenstadt on Monday.
However, according to Geosphere, current temperatures are not unusual for Bregenz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Graz and Klagenfurt; the last time it was colder here in December was only last year. Overall, we are still a long way from December’s cold record. This is minus 29.5 degrees and was measured in Bad Bleiberg (Carinthia) in 1939.
Here you can see a tweet from the severe weather center.
More snow than we have had in a long time
According to the Austrian severe weather center, last weekend’s heavy snowfall was caused by a low over northern Italy. Since Friday evening it has been snowing heavily from Vorarlberg to Salzburg and Upper Austria. Almost all of Austria was covered with snow on Sunday. On the Hohe Warte in Vienna there was 21 centimeters of snow on Sunday and 17 on Monday. The last time there was more snow in this place on a December day was in 2010 – with 24 centimeters. The last time more white splendor was seen in St. Pölten was 13 years ago.
Here you see a time-lapse of the fresh snow in Kernhof (Lower Austria).
Avalanche danger in Lower Austria and Carinthia
The snow load sometimes caused problems on the roads and the electricity grid. In Upper Austria, for example, all ÖAMTC breakdown vehicles were deployed to help with frozen doors, broken batteries or frozen diesel. In Carinthia, a 51-year-old caused an avalanche on Sunday while driving in open terrain. In the mountains of Lower Austria, with the exception of the Gutenstein Alps, there was also significant avalanche danger (level 3) on Monday at an altitude of 1,100 meters or more. According to the warning service, fresh and brittle wind slabs may develop and sliding snow avalanches are possible at mid-height.
Ice, frost and rain
It will remain wintery in the coming days. “After the snow comes the cold,” the severe weather center tweeted Sunday. Sleet and frost are currently expected. It can also rain at low altitudes. According to the weather forecast, temperatures on Tuesday will generally be between minus nine and minus one degrees in the morning and between minus three and five degrees in the afternoon.
It may snow again everywhere on Wednesday. Rain or sleet is also possible at low altitudes on this day. In the morning temperatures are usually between minus six and one degree, in the afternoon between minus one and five degrees. Thursday will be slightly colder in most of Austria, but at the same time very sunny. However, clouds are expected to prevail in the east, bringing some snowfall and rain at low altitudes.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
