Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

WEATHER

‘Siberian cold’: Austria’s icy spell to continue with double-digit minus temperatures this weekend

Austria was in the grip of a period of sub-zero weather on Friday with the big chill forecast to continue over the weekend. Thermometers could dip well below minus 20C.

Published: 12 February 2021 16:06 CET
'Siberian cold': Austria's icy spell to continue with double-digit minus temperatures this weekend
People walk in front of the snow-covered memorial of Empress Maria Theresa. Photo: ALEX HALADA / AFP

Austria has been hit by icy cold temperatures for much of the week.

Temperatures on Friday morning dipped to -22C in Dobersberg, a low lying town near the German border in the north east. 

The mercury was expected to rise slightly throughout the day to a cool -16C tonight.

The icy temperatures in the low-lying provinces of Bergenland, Carinthia and Styria felt much colder than the thermometer readings due to gusting winds of up to 40km/h.

Dobersberg’s low was expected to be matched on Friday night in St Jakob in Defereggen which stands at 1,400m altitude in mountainous East Tyrol near the Italian border.

On Saturday night, the temperature could plummet to -24C.

The cold temperatures are thanks to a blanket of cold air lying over central and eastern Europe, the result of a high pressure area centred on Norway. 

Vienna remained at a relatively balmy -10C on Friday morning despite being less than two hours from frigid Dobersberg.

Reports from the ground record real temperatures closer to minus six.

The record books have still to be challenged. The longest run of consecutive days below freezing in Vienna was 48, which took place in the winter of 1890/91.

In more recent times, the longest run was 14 days in January 2012.

The same year Tannheim in Tyrol, which lies at just over a thousand metres, hit  -28.9C.

 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

FLOODS

How Austria plans to prevent future catastrophic floods

Following catastrophic floods in Lower Austria, the Austrian government has announced the creation a €1 billion disaster fund to rebuild affected areas and prevent future disasters. Here's how you can access help.

Published: 18 September 2024 10:45 CEST
How Austria plans to prevent future catastrophic floods

Austria will step up its efforts to prevent future disasters in the wake of the catastrophic floods that recently ravaged parts of the country, chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) and vice-chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) said in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Following the deadly storms that primarily affected Lower Austria, the Austrian government increased the national disaster fund to €1 billion, with an emphasis on both immediate relief and long-term flood protection, the politicians said.

The floods, described as some of the worst in recent memory, led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Four people lost their lives, while many communities in Lower Austria face the slow process of recovery. 

READ ALSO: What’s the cause of Austria’s ‘unprecedented’ rainfall and flooding?

Efforts were concentrated on restoring homes and businesses, repairing infrastructure, and preventing similar disasters in the future.

Emergency measures and relief for affected areas

As part of the relief package, €45 million in emergency aid was made available from the disaster fund on Tuesday to assist those hit hardest by the floods. 

Chancellor Nehammer stressed the importance of swift action, ensuring that affected individuals could access support quickly. “We are very grateful for the heroic efforts of volunteers and emergency services,” said Nehammer.

Residents who have suffered damage to their homes would benefit from the expanded housing support, which totals €40 million. 

In cases where homes are uninhabitable, additional hardship assistance will be provided, the chancellor announced. 

A man wades through a flooded street and carries items on September 17, 2024 in Moosbierbaum in Tullnerfeld, Austria, as the town is expecting a third flood wave after a new dam burst. (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP)

Businesses that were damaged or forced to close will receive special interest-free loans and guarantees to aid in their recovery. Moreover, companies facing extended closures can temporarily register their employees for short-time working schemes (known as Kurzarbeit, a popular scheme during the pandemic years with subsidised salaries to avoid dismissals)  to alleviate financial strain.

READ ALSO: Do workers in Austria have the right to stay at home amid floods crisis?

How to access support

Nehammer emphasised that local authorities would be the primary point of contact for residents seeking aid from the disaster fund. “Those affected should reach out to their mayors or municipal offices to access advance payments and receive faster support,” he explained.

In addition to immediate aid, the increased disaster fund will support long-term flood protection measures. 

An initial €10 million has been earmarked for renovating flood defences and dams, and further investments are planned to strengthen Austria’s preparedness against future extreme weather events. 

According to Nehammer, a total of €1 billion will be invested in flood protection projects across the country in the coming years.

Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler highlighted that lessons have been learned from previous disasters, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts between municipalities, provinces, and the federal government. 

Kogler also called for greater attention to soil and nature conservation, which he said can help mitigate the impact of extreme weather events caused by climate change. “When there is water, there is too much. That is the nature of the climate crisis,” he said, calling for municipalities to reduce the size of areas that are concreted over.

READ NEXT: Will my Austrian home insurance cover storm damage?

SHOW COMMENTS