Where there was still heat and drought at the beginning of September, the weather situation now looks completely different. Snowfall, avalanche danger and persistent rain – plus “maximum temperatures” between 8 and 11 degrees. The cold wave has the country firmly in its grip. Roads and train routes have already been closed. What threatens us on Friday…
Over 30 degrees and a heat warning: What happened last week is no longer something to think about today. If you haven’t gotten your winter coat out of the closet yet, it’s best to stay warm at home. Due to the snowfall and persistent rain that has been prevailing since Thursday, the Austrian Severe Weather Center (uwz) has declared the highest warning level in some regions on Friday morning. Because in Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria and also Vienna, the day starts with heavy and sometimes icy rain.
First pictures of the snowfall in the country:
ÖBB route partially closed due to snowfall
After the low point moved further east on Thursday evening, the first effects of the cold wave are already visible – and palpable – in the Salzburg and Carinthia regions. For example, in rail traffic: part of the ÖBB Tauern line has already been closed. The section between Bischofshofen and Spittal is affected. In this area, buses alternately run for long-distance transport. For local transport, the ÖBB offers a rail replacement service with buses between Schwarzach-St. Veit and Bad Gastein.
On Thursday, the Austrian Federal Railways had already expressly advised against taking a train journey at the weekend.
But since Thursday, the first road closures have also been in effect. On the Hochkönig Straße (B164) in the Pinzgau in Salzburg, there is a closure in the Filzensattel area due to fallen trees. The closure is expected to last all of Friday. In Styria, a closure was also reported on the Triebener Straße (B114) between Hohentauern (Murtal district) and Trieben (Liezen district) due to poor road conditions. The Austrian automobile club ÖAMTC also recommends taking snow chains with you when driving into the Alps.
ASFINAG also advises against unnecessary car journeys during the weekend. Emergency services are already on standby throughout the country.
The first snowfall occurred at 880 meters above sea level in Upper Carinthia:
Meteorologists describe the upcoming weather situation as “potentially catastrophic”. The expected amount of precipitation in some regions significantly exceeds the usual annual amounts. The situation is considered very serious and the authorities are calling on the public to be careful and follow the safety instructions.
Situation “less dramatic than 2013”
The situation regarding the flood risk looks somewhat different: despite the expected very high precipitation amounts in the coming days, hydrologist Günter BLöschl does not believe in a repeat of the extreme Danube water levels of 2002 and 2013: on the one hand, the soil can absorb a lot of water after the relatively dry August. On the other hand, the enormous drop in temperature this time also promises a lot of precipitation in the form of snow. Regional floods can still occur, which “can also be large”.
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.
