Heavy Summer Snowfall in European Alps – Austria, Italy, Germany & Switzerland Receive Up To 40cm
August 27th, 2018
Set to open next month, Stubai Glacier (Stubaier Gletscher) has gotten in early for the first snow of the 2018/19 winter season… as it’s still summer. Image:: Stubai Glacier
Mountainwatch | Matt Wiseman
Heavy snow fell above 1500 metres across the European Alps this weekend with a number of destinations reporting over 40cm of the fluffy white stuff.
While it is still summer in Europe, temperatures dropped over 15 degrees and dipped into the negatives in less than 24hrs. Germany’s highest peak, The Zugspitze – at 2962m above sea level – recorded 25cm of snow whilst thermometers hit negative 7 degrees.
Although skiing remains possible across half a dozen glacier dependant ski fields throughout Austria, Italy and Switzerland, the snowfall came just days after these areas were recording temperatures in the 10’s and 20’s, with parts of Germany expecting temperatures to reach 30 degrees by mid-week.
The result of the cold front that swept across many of these resorts and throughout Central Europe is perhaps best summed up in the below images… Feast your eyes and enjoy!
Gamskarkogelhütte auf is a mountain cabin in Bad Hofgastein, Austria. At an elevation of 2467m they got absolutely blanketed in snow! These images where taken 22hrs ago. Image:: Gamskarkogel Hütte’s Facebook
Seeing is believing! Image:: Gamskarkogel Hütte’s Facebook
It’s not often you have to dig out the front door in Europe, in August, in summer… Image:: Gamskarkogel Hütte’s Facebook
The sun came out 12hrs ago, illuminating a pretty spectacular scene. Image:: Gamskarkogel Hütte’s Facebook
A summer winter wonderland. Image:: Gamskarkogel Hütte’s Facebook
Some expansive views on offer from 2467m. Image:: Gamskarkogel Hütte’s Facebook
Tables and cars seem to do battle to be the universal markers for how much it’s snowed. I think tables are currently in the lead… with 40cm shown on them here at Stubai Glacier. Image:: Stubai Glacier.
Stubai is Austria’s largest glacier ski resort and only 45 minutes from Innsbruck, Tyrol. Image:: Stubai Glacier.
Stubai halfway through the weekend/snowfall. Image:: Stubai Glacier.
For some context, this is how Stubai was looking just 2 days before the snowfall… Image:: Stubai Glacier.
Nearby Hintertuxer Gletscher also received similar amounts of snowfall, with up to 35cm reported on the ground this morning. It’s also open to skiing and boarding on its Glacier right now, so some lucky few were probably treated to some summer pow turns! Image:: Hintertuxer Gletscher
The town of Obertauern in Salzburgerland supports the longest non-glacier skiing season in Austria and is slated to open in November. Image:: Obertauern
Some of Obertauern’s locals looking fairly dumbfounded… Image:: Obertauern
Someone broke out the snow blower at Pitztaler. Image:: Pitztaler Gletscher
While the snow is unlikely to stick around for long, it’s certainly got some European folk excited for the season ahead and no doubt some of you guys too!
Here’s hoping the northern hemisphere delivers like it has down under this year…
