As in the previous year, there was significantly less snow compared to the long-term average.
The average snow depths last winter were among the five lowest since 1991 (Image: Panda in Schönbrunn Zoo). APA / TIERGARTEN SCHÖNBRUNN / Daniel Zupanc
The past winter in Austria was characterized by lots of sunshine, relatively mild temperatures, but also very little rainfall. Compared to the long-term average 1991-2020, as in the previous year, there was significantly less snow, as Geosphere Austria reported on Wednesday. In Germany, Switzerland and here, the average snow depths have been among the five lowest since 1991.
The winter half-year was characterized by a combination of above-average temperatures and drought, according to a joint analysis by the German Weather ServiceMeteoSchweiz and Geosphere showed. The winter half-year from November 2025 to April 2026 was characterized by a mix of above-average temperatures and drought. The warming trend continued with an increase of 1.1 degrees compared to the 1991-2020 climate average. However, it was a little cooler than last winter (plus 1.6 degrees).
In the Northern Alps it was the second driest winter since 1991, and in the Southern Alps it was even the driest. The largest deficits occurred from December to the beginning of February (up to minus 70 percent). During this phase, there was almost no heavy snowfall. There was initially a change in trend from February 10th. So much precipitation fell by February 24th that a positive monthly balance was achieved in almost all Alpine regions of the DACH region, as Geosphere reported.
In Valais, Graubünden, East Tyrol and from the Lechtal Alps to the Chiemgau Alps there was an increase in precipitation of 75 to 150 percent. But even these quantities were not enough to offset the overall deficit. In addition, there was also a low rainfall April.
The consequences of man-made climate change through greenhouse gas emissions affect the Alpine region more than other regions or natural areas, as the authors of the Alpine climate report emphasized. “In this highly sensitive area, the effects of climate change are clearly visible. There is less and less snow, the glaciers are losing significantly in mass and in summer heat is becoming an increasingly bigger problem, even at higher altitudes. These changes do not stop at the national borders and affect the entire Alpine region equally. This makes cross-border information about climatological developments in the Alpine region all the more important.”
So-called inversion situations often occurred in winter. This means that temperatures in the valley were lower than at altitude. An indicator of this were days with fog or high fog over the lowlands. The visibility on the mountain was very good, the air was clear and the sky was blue, but in the valley it was cold and cloudy. In addition, according to the Geosphere broadcast, pollutants can accumulate in the air during such times and lead to an increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Both of the past winter months brought an increased number of foggy or high fog days in the region compared to around 30 years before. The Klagenfurt/Villacher Alpe measuring station pair achieved 27 and 30 such days respectively in the last two winters. The long-term average is 17.3 days.
When solar storms hit the Earth’s magnetic field, geomagnetic storms can form. According to Geosphere, this means it has both visual and technical consequences. Although the maximum of the current solar cycle was already exceeded at the turn of the year 2024/2025, increased solar activity was still noticeable in the Alpine region in the past winter half-year. From November 5th to 9th, several solar storms reached Earth. Another coronal mass ejection followed on November 11th, followed on November 12th by an even stronger event associated with a very intense radiation burst, the release said.
The highlight of the season came on January 19th of this year. A particularly powerful eruption on the Sun hurled a rapid mass ejection toward Earth, triggering a powerful geomagnetic storm. Impressive northern lights could also be seen in the Alpine region that night. On March 30, 2026, another geomagnetic storm occurred, although it was significantly weaker than the one in January. (APA)
