High temperatures, little precipitation: winter is currently showing its mild side. This leads to numerous problems in the ski areas: Many have to be closed due to a lack of snow, numerous slopes have to be covered with artificial snow. As a result, accidents on the slopes are increasing.
AUSTRIA. The high temperatures and low rainfall over the last few days and weeks means that there is a lack of snow in the entire Alpine region at the peak of the winter season. In many places, the same picture emerges: white artificial snow bands in ski areas, surrounded by largely aperous surroundings. Some ski areas have closed their slopes completely due to an acute lack of snow. Many guests have booked their vacation at the ski resort well in advance, which leads to heavy traffic on the snow belts.
risk of accidents increases
The location in the ski areas and the aperen slopes next to the piste naturally also lead to a higher risk of accidents. If you come off the piste at too high a speed, the skis are stopped abruptly. In addition, the risk of injury on the meadow or on stones is many times higher than on snow. This leads to an increase in accidents, often with a fatal outcome, since there is also a lack of space to fall. The high number of guests is an advantage here, as there is less rest.
Of course, artificial snow also reaches its limits at the high temperatures, since snow-making is only possible at temperatures below 3 degrees. This is often no longer possible, especially if you go further down the valley. Artificial snow is also not without problems in other respects: 250,000 to 400,000 liters of water are required for 1,000 square meters of piste.
Record temperatures in the new year
The “winter heat wave” has been going on for weeks. There were temperature records in several countries, including Austria. A total of 19.7 degrees were measured on New Year’s Day in Puchberg am Schneeberg (Lower Austria). A new record of 19.5 degrees was also set on the Mariahilfberg in Gutenstein in Lower Austria.
According to the monthly balance of the ZAMG, December was unusually mild. In the lowlands, December was 1.0 degrees higher than the average for the climatic period from 1990 to 2020, and in the alpine areas even 1.2 degrees. There was relatively little precipitation, only occasionally was precipitation above average. The amount of new snow was about 30 to 60 percent lower than the long-term average.
No improvement in sight
The forecasts show no improvement in the situation: large amounts of snow cannot be expected. Real winter weather is still a long time coming.
You might also be interested in:
Booking situation also good in winter
Gaberl temporarily stops skiing
“Mildest winter” since records began