The risk of forest fire in Vienna is increasing: Forest experts warn urgent!

The risk of forest fire in Vienna is increasing: Forest experts warn urgent!

Wien, Österreich - Vienna is on alert: The risk of forest fire has increased dramatically in the past few weeks due to the extremely dry weather. As forest director Andreas Januskovecz warned against Radio Vienna, it is crucial to avoid open fire, as smoking in the forests can already lead to devastating fires. He asked the population to report any smoke development immediately because time is a critical factor in the fight against forest fires. These serious warnings come against the background of a February 2025, which brought 66 percent less precipitation across Austria than usual, said Geosphere Austria.

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In February it was almost not snowing in Vienna and other parts of Austria. So there was no fresh snow in the capital, while about 14 centimeters were expected on average in February in February. Statistics spoke volumes: February was only drier in 1998, 2003 and 2011. In many regions, including Kufstein, Kremsmünster and Reichenau/Rax, there was also no new snow. These extreme conditions could have serious consequences for vegetation and nature.

According to the climateologist Alexander Orlik, such a dry February is a rare event that is statistically about every five to seven years. In addition, the temperatures in the lowlands have increased by 1.0 degrees over the average level of the past decades, which has been the 45th warmest since the start of the measurements. At the same time, Austria experienced an increased number of sunshine, which accelerated the development of vegetation. Early bloomers, like the snowdrop, blossomed three days earlier than in the long -term average, which indicates the change in the seasons due to the lack of rain and the milder temperatures.

The situation remains tense: Without the risk of rainfall, the risk of forest fire threatens further escalation, and nature faces an enormous challenge, as well as the current data on dryness and lack of snow.

For detailed weather analyzes and further information on the current developments, visit Geosphere Austria and ORF Vienna .