Winter Strikes Back: Up to 60 cm Snow and Violent Storms Expected
Austria is facing severe late-winter conditions, with heavy snowfall, storms, and freezing temperatures gripping much of the country as weather warnings remain in place across nearly all regions.
Authorities have issued a red weather alert for Tirol (Tyrol) and Vorarlberg, where more than 60 centimeters of fresh snow could fall within hours. Orange warnings have also been declared in Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), and Oberösterreich (Upper Austria), signaling dangerous conditions.
While Kärnten (Carinthia) remains relatively unaffected, eastern regions including Burgenland, Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), and southern Vienna are preparing for strong storms, with wind gusts expected to reach up to 100 km/h.
Meteorologists warn that a powerful weather system is bringing dense clouds, heavy rain, and snowfall even at lower elevations, disrupting expectations of spring-like weather during the Easter holiday period.
The extreme conditions follow a series of record-breaking winds recorded in recent days. Speeds reached 133.6 km/h at Kölnbreinsperre and 131 km/h at Schöckl, setting new March records in several regions.
Experts note that despite the current harsh conditions, weather patterns are expected to gradually shift toward milder temperatures as Easter approaches, although cold and unstable conditions may persist in the short term.