The extreme weather that hit Austria over the weekend saw torrential rain and gale-force winds provoke floods and widespread disruption.
Experts forecast continuous rainfall until at least Monday, with 150 to 200 litres of rain per square metre expected across the Salzkammergut and the Vienna Woods.
The situation was particularly dire in Lower Austria, where authorities declared a disaster area on Sunday morning.
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Lower Austria declared disaster zone
Lower Austria was it by some one one of the worst weather in recent history. Firefighters battled flooding across the province, with over 1,160 fire brigades and 20,000 personnel deployed. One firefighter lost their life during rescue operations in the Tulln district, Austrian media reported.
Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner called the situation “dramatic” and warned that further heavy rainfall was expected. Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf said, “We are dealing with an unprecedented extreme situation. “
Several roads, including the West motorway, were closed due to flooding. The Ottenstein reservoir was predicted to reach its capacity by Sunday afternoon, which could lead to further overflows.
Vienna on high alert
The storm-related flooding has reached Vienna, with parts of the city now facing significant disruption. In Penzing, the Wien River overflowed its banks, flooding homes and forcing evacuations. Several underground lines, including the U2, U3, U4, and U6, were operating on a restricted basis due to rising water levels. Wiener Linien does not expect normal services to resume until Wednesday, as extensive protective measures were put in place.
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Authorities have urged residents to avoid the banks of the Wienfluss and Liesingbach rivers, which are at risk of further flooding. Power outages have also affected parts of the city, including Penzing, Landstraße, and Donaustadt, where thousands of households are without electricity.
Transport and event cancellations
Train services across Austria have been heavily impacted. The ÖBB has suspended services on the West line between Amstetten and St. Valentin, and passengers were being advised to postpone non-essential travel. The validity of train tickets has been extended, but it was unclear when regular services will resume.
Numerous events have been cancelled, including the Wachau Marathon, concerts in Wels and the Wachau, and several Austrian Bundesliga football matches. Road closures due to flooding have added to the chaos, with over 45 federal and state roads closed in Lower Austria alone.
Government advice for Monday
As the weather continues to worsen, the Ministry of Education has confirmed that schools will remain open where possible. However, parents should not send their children to school if doing so would put them at risk.
According to advice from the Chamber of Labour and the Austrian Trade Union Federation, employees unable to attend work due to the severe weather will not face penalties as long as they inform their employers in advance.
“We are doing everything we can to keep schools open, but safety comes first,” said Lower Austria Governor Mikl-Leitner.
Authorities have asked people to stay home whenever possible, charge their devices (as there is still a risk of power outages), and check weather services and local government announcements.
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