The ÖBB and the city of Vienna called on people not to take avoidable journeys on Friday – the situation was too risky. Heavy rain, wind and a severe winter storm in the mountains have brought with it numerous warnings.
As a precaution, many events have been cancelled, especially in Lower Austria, where the most rain is expected. In addition to the Wachau Marathon planned for Sunday, the “Starnacht aus der Wachau” on September 20 and 21 in Rossatzbach (Krems-Land district) cannot take place either. “According to the decision, the event site must be cleared based on the current water levels of the Danube,” said the ORF. It was no longer possible to set up the event again in time. Tickets already purchased for the event will be refunded – more information at noe.ORF.at.
Rail changes to road
Table of Contents
- 1 Rail changes to road
- 2 Regular service on the Danube discontinued
- 3 Flood situation around Austria
- 4 No “Aufsteirern” this year
- 5 Weather extremes & climate crisis
- 6 Football fans have to be patient
- 7 Concert in Upper Austria cancelled
- 8 Political events cancelled
- 9 – What events were cancelled in Austria due to the severe winter storm?
- 10 Based on ensuring everyone’s well-being in hazardous conditions.
Table of Contents
- 1 Rail changes to road
- 2 Regular service on the Danube discontinued
- 3 Flood situation around Austria
- 4 No “Aufsteirern” this year
- 5 Weather extremes & climate crisis
- 6 Football fans have to be patient
- 7 Concert in Upper Austria cancelled
- 8 Political events cancelled
- 9 – What events were cancelled in Austria due to the severe winter storm?
According to ÖBB, operations were suspended as a preventive measure from Saturday morning to Monday evening on the routes Wiener Neustadt Hauptbahnhof – Puchberg am Schneeberg, Wöllersdorf – Gutenstein, Bad Fischau/Brunn – Gutenstein, Leobersdorf – Weisenbach-Neuhaus and Wiener Neustadt Hauptbahnhof – Friedberg. Rail replacement services will be set up.
In the Wachau, due to the predicted flood situation, regional bus services on the left bank of the Danube will be suspended from Saturday. Line 715 is affected. The Wachaubahn is available as a replacement, and tickets valid in the Eastern Region Transport Association (VOR) will be accepted, it was said.
Regular service on the Danube discontinued
The DDSG Blue Danube has also suspended scheduled boat service over the next few days due to the extreme weather conditions and the expected rise in the Danube’s river level. In Vienna, scheduled services will be suspended from Saturday to Monday, according to a press release. There will be no scheduled services in the Wachau on Sunday and Monday. The day trip from Vienna to Dürnstein planned for Sunday has also been cancelled.
“Affected passengers will receive a refund for their tickets or can exchange them for another date free of charge,” the company reported. Passengers are asked to find out about possible short-term changes before starting their journey. Flooding on the Danube was also expected in Vienna – more on this at wien.ORF.at.
Flood situation around Austria
Flood warnings due to persistent heavy rain are in place not only in Austria, but also in several neighboring countries, such as Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, where authorities and emergency services are also preparing for a stormy weekend.
No “Aufsteirern” this year
In Styria, the traditional “Aufsteirern” in the city center of Graz had to be canceled. The event attracts around 100,000 visitors every year. The extreme weather conditions and the persistent strong wind made it impossible to hold the event safely, it was said.
Weather extremes & climate crisis
Although individual extreme events cannot be directly attributed to a specific cause, one thing is clear, according to the current IPCC report: Due to the climate crisis, extreme weather events such as floods, storms and heat are becoming more frequent and intense. This means that precipitation and storms are becoming heavier, heat waves are becoming hotter and droughts are becoming drier.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that this year’s ‘Aufsteirern’ Festival – in close coordination with the responsible authorities – unfortunately has to be cancelled for the entire weekend due to the current weather forecast,” said the organizers in a press release on Friday. In addition, a safe journey for guests cannot be guaranteed under the circumstances.
“The safety and well-being of all participants, visitors and our employees is our top priority,” said the organizers.
Governor Christopher Drexler (ÖVP) called the cancellation of the festival “really a shame”. Despite all the regrets, safety is the top priority. He appealed to all Styrians to be particularly cautious in the coming days in view of the forecast weather. Graz Mayor Elke Kahr (KPÖ) also underlined the danger of the coming days – more on this at steiermark.ORF.at.
Football fans have to be patient
In Salzburg, the home game of football runner-up Salzburg against Austria Klagenfurt on Saturday was cancelled. The league announced this on Friday afternoon after a preliminary commissioning of the Red Bull Arena. The two Friday games in the 2nd football league between SKN St. Pölten against Admira and Rapid II against Amstetten had already been cancelled.
debate
Weather extremes: More awareness of climate change?
“Due to the heavy rainfall of the last few days, the ground is already extremely deep in many areas of the pitch,” the Salzburg team said in a press release. “As the weather forecast for the coming days does not indicate any improvement, but rather more rainfall,” the cancellation was unavoidable. Dates for the new events should be set soon – more on this at salzburg.ORF.at.
Concert in Upper Austria cancelled
The weather also put a damper on many events in Upper Austria. In addition to numerous small events and markets, the concert by the band Böhse Onkelz at the race track in Wels, which was planned for Saturday, was cancelled on Friday due to the weather. The starters of the European Peace Ride from Bad Ischl to the 2025 Capital of Culture, Chemnitz, had to complete the first leg by bus instead of by bike as planned – more on this at ooe.ORF.at.
The ÖBB switched some lines in Upper Austria to rail replacement services: from Saturday onwards, the Almtalbahn between Wels and Grünau, the Mühlkreisbahn between Rottenegg and Aigen-Schlägl and the Donauuferbahn between Grein Stadt and St. Nikola will only be running as rail replacement services. Due to the travel warning issued, the train connection for all national, international and night train tickets purchased by September 12th has been lifted for the period from September 13th to 15th.
Political events cancelled
Politics was also affected by cancellations in the middle of the election campaign: The ÖVP canceled its Upper Austria “kick-off to the election finals” planned for Saturday in Ried im Innkreis with Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and State Governor Thomas Stelzer. SPÖ leader Andreas Babler canceled an election campaign event in Klagenfurt on Friday.
– What events were cancelled in Austria due to the severe winter storm?
Severe Winter Storm Hits Austria: Events Cancelled, Travel Disrupted
A powerful winter storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding to Austria, prompting authorities to issue numerous warnings and cancellations of events across the country.
Events Cancelled Due to Weather
Several events were cancelled in Lower Austria, including the Wachau Marathon, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday. The ”Starnacht aus der Wachau” event, which was supposed to take place on September 20 and 21 in Rossatzbach, was also cancelled due to the expected flooding of the Danube
Based on ensuring everyone’s well-being in hazardous conditions.
Severe Winter Storm Brings Widespread Disruptions and Cancellations to Austria
As a powerful winter storm sweeps across Austria, the ÖBB and the city of Vienna have issued a warning to citizens to avoid unnecessary travel on Friday, citing hazardous conditions. The storm brings with it heavy rain, strong winds, and a severe winter storm in the mountains, prompting numerous warnings and cancellations of events across the country.
Rail Changes to Road
As a precaution, many rail services have been suspended or altered. The ÖBB has announced that operations will be suspended from Saturday morning to Monday evening on several routes, including Wiener Neustadt Hauptbahnhof – Puchberg am Schneeberg, Wöllersdorf – Gutenstein, Bad Fischau/Brunn – Gutenstein, Leobersdorf – Weisenbach-Neuhaus, and Wiener Neustadt Hauptbahnhof – Friedberg. Rail replacement services will be set up to mitigate the disruptions.
Regular Service on the Danube Discontinued
In addition to rail services, the DDSG Blue Danube has also suspended its scheduled boat service due to the extreme weather conditions and the expected rise in the Danube’s river level. In Vienna, scheduled services will be suspended from Saturday to Monday, and in the Wachau, there will be no scheduled services on Sunday and Monday. The day trip from Vienna to Dürnstein planned for Sunday has also been cancelled.
Flood Situation Around Austria
Flood warnings due to persistent heavy rain are in place not only in Austria but also in several neighboring countries, including Germany, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, where authorities and emergency services are also preparing for a stormy weekend.
No “Aufsteirern” this Year
In Styria, the traditional “Aufsteirern” in the city center of Graz has been cancelled due to the extreme weather conditions and the persistent rain. The event, which attracts around 100,000 visitors every year, will not take place this year.
Weather Extremes and Climate Crisis
The severe winter storm highlights the importance of being aware of the impact of climate change on our lives. As weather extremes become more frequent and intense, it is crucial that we take steps to reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Football Fans Have to be Patient
Football fans will also have to be patient, as several matches have been postponed or cancelled due to the weather conditions. The safety of players and spectators is of utmost importance, and the decision to cancel or postpone matches is
