WeatherBlog 16 2023/24 | Still changeable

Current situation and outlook

The low pressure from the last southern storm has moved on, giving us a more northerly flow during the last few days with clouds and some fresh snow in the north and sun in the south. The low is now leaving the Alpine region towards the east and high pressure is moving in. Tomorrow, Thursday, should be sunny across the board, with some lingering clouds in the east. However, the development of low pressure over the Atlantic will quickly make itself felt again. On Friday, a westerly upper level flow will set in, transporting more humid air masses to the Alpine region. There will also be some (not a lot of) precipitation. The weekend looks windy and mixed with a westerly to south-westerly flow. A repeat of the recent southerly storms is unlikely for the time being. The forecast for the beginning of next week also sees changeable weather with relatively fast-moving disturbances and sunny spells in between.

The tiny ski resort of St. Corona am Wechsel (Lower Austria) was recently featured in the Austrian press as an example of successful adaptation to climate change: "As soon as winter operations cease, the excavators move in to remove the snow. A short time later, the drag lifts can be used as ascent aids for mountain bikers." In addition to removing snow, the main focus is on alternative offers such as biking, summer toboggan runs and motorised parks. These measures were implemented because a new chairlift wasn’t affordable. They are now regarded as a model example because they can be used flexibly when there is no snow. 

Finally, a recommended read: Where do we go when we're lost? The science of "Lost Person Behaviour" can help locate missing hikers by sending rescue teams in hopefully the right direction. Of course, it's not that simple. The article is long (and in English), perhaps a little soporific at times, but offers an interesting overview.