Cold shock for Austria: Snowfall expected in the Alps!

Cold shock for Austria: Snowfall expected in the Alps!

From Wednesday, February 26, 2025, meteorologists announced a striking change in weather for Austria because a cold front moves across the country from the west. A genuine low brings with it inconsistent weather conditions: from the Carnic Alps to Carinthia, the residents have to expect changeable weather, with snowfall in particular being expected in the mountains. "The snow border is expected to be between 700 and 1200 meters," said a meteorologist of geosphere, which means that the snowfalls will be significant in the higher altitudes, especially in the Alps, while the dominating precipitation shape remains in the valleys. In Carinthia, up to 15 cm of fresh snow on the mountains are predicted, but it stays mild and rainy in the valleys, as 5min.at reported.

long -term decline in snowfall

These short -term weather changes are contrasting to long -term trends that prove a dramatic decline in snowfall in the Alps. According to a current study published in the magazine "International Journal of Climatology", the average snowfall in the Alps has dropped by a third since the 1980s. "The development of the fresh snow in the Alps is very negative, we can speak of a total decline of 34 percent," said Michele Bozzoli, an author of the study. These worrying data show that the temperatures in this region have risen by about one degree Celsius and that the precipitation falls more and more than rain instead of snow, especially below 2000 meters. This information was compiled in a report by taz and clarify that the decline in snow not only affects winter sports, but also serious environmental consequences. Less snow means reducing the water reserves in spring and thus endangers the entire alpine water availability.