In a tumultuous weather week, Austria experienced severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and flooding in various regions. Geosphere Austria (formerly ZAMG) issued warnings as temperatures soared to 35 degrees in Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland on Monday, with the rest of the country facing temperatures between 25 to 32 degrees. Vorarlberg, Tyrol, and Salzburg were at the highest risk of rain and thunderstorms. Tuesday brought continued rain and strong winds, with temperatures ranging from 20 degrees in the west to 26 degrees in the east. However, the likelihood of tropical nights with minimum temperatures of 20 degrees was low, and temperatures were expected to drop to around 10 to 12 degrees.
As the week progressed, the weather was forecasted to calm down gradually on Thursday, with temperatures reaching 26 degrees across the country. Nevertheless, heavy thunderstorms and rain were predicted for northern Lower and Upper Austria. On Friday, the 30-degree mark could be reached again, particularly in eastern Austria. The weekend’s weather outlook remained uncertain.
On a distressing Saturday afternoon and evening, Carinthia bore the brunt of severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain, hail, and storms. The region witnessed around 400 emergency calls and the response of almost 120 fire brigades. The city of Klagenfurt and neighboring communities experienced significant damage, with numerous flooded cellars, fallen trees, and storm-related destruction. Additionally, the Völkermarkt district faced an unsafe slope situation between Obertweng and Feld am See, while the Villach Land district encountered further disruptions due to the weather conditions. Although access to houses remained possible via Feld am See, the Obertwenger community road was closed as a safety measure.
Adding to the challenges, on Sunday, multiple fire brigades battled a forest and field fire in Seyring, Gerasdorf, near Vienna. The fire, reported shortly before 2:30 p.m., caused extensive damage in the area surrounding the Hubertus chapel on Brünner Straße. In response, seven fire brigades from Lower Austria and the Vienna professional fire brigade swiftly intervened to control the situation.
As the nation navigates through these turbulent weather patterns, authorities and emergency services remain vigilant, responding promptly to the damage and ensuring public safety. The impact of the severe weather is being closely monitored, and measures are in place to handle any further developments in the weather conditions.