Precipitation partly in the record range

Large amounts of fresh snow keep the emergency services on their toes in Tyrol and Carinthia. The capricious weather in places led to the highest warning level, with the amount of precipitation on Sunday sometimes reaching previous highs.

In addition to the red weather warning in East Tyrol and Upper Carinthia, there was also the extremely rarely proclaimed highest avalanche warning level five, i.e. very high risk. In the evening there is partly heavy snowfall and rain in the mountains and in the south, but according to the ORF weather department, the largest amounts of snow and rain have now fallen.

In East Tyrol, Upper Carinthia and on the main Tyrolean Alpine ridge, around two meters of snow came together in places. Around 300 liters per square meter (in the form of rain and snow) were measured in 48 hours, according to the ORF weather department, for example in Kornat in Carinthia's Lesach Valley, which puts it in the range of the 48-hour precipitation record.

According to the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG), 210 liters per square meter in the East Tyrolean capital of Lienz; the record there from November 1966 is 258 liters per square meter. Measurements have been made in Lienz since 1880. In Sillian (East Tyrol) 205 liters per square meter of snow and / or rain fell in 48 hours, in Kötschach-Mauthen (Carinthia) 195 liters, in St. Jakob / Defereggen (East Tyrol) 190 liters, in Hintertux / Zillertal (North Tyrol) 110 liters and in Neustift / Milders (North Tyrol) 100 liters.

According to the first data evaluation, the 24-hour fresh snow amounts at some ZAMG weather stations are in the record range, at least one “record” has already been exceeded. In Umhausen in the Ötztal (1,030 meters above sea level) it snowed around 80 centimeters from Saturday to Sunday, the record for 24 hours there was 45 centimeters. Measurements have been made here since 1956.

The continued tense avalanche situation in East Tyrol is illustrated by the departure of a slab in Prägraten am Großvenediger on Saturday evening. Four houses and one vehicle were damaged. An avalanche also damaged several buildings in Hopfgarten in Defereggen. The heavy rain, however, led to problems at low altitudes, especially in the Lienz valley floor. After a wet snow avalanche, a lake has formed in Nussdorf-Debant that endangers houses.

The highest avalanche warning level remains. Extremely large avalanches can occur and exposed settlements and traffic routes are at risk. Schools in East Tyrol and in the rear Ötztal are closed on Monday.

The same applies to the Upper Mölltal, Rennweg, Kötschach Mauthen and the Lesachtal in Carinthia, where elementary and secondary schools and kindergartens are also closed on Monday.

Because of the high risk of avalanches, clearing vehicles were also ordered back on Sunday for safety reasons. The state of Carinthia also warned the population in the hardest-hit areas against going outside.

Many roads were only passable with snow chains on Sunday or were closed at all, including the Plöckenpass and the access to the Lesachtal in Carinthia. There are other effects on rail traffic. Due to the adverse weather conditions, the Brenner railway line will remain interrupted on both the Tyrolean (between Steinach and Brenner) and the South Tyrolean side (near Franzensfeste) until Monday afternoon, as the ÖBB announced on Sunday afternoon. Wherever the weather allowed it, a replacement rail service had been set up, it said.