Warmer than ever before

Temperatures in February beat all records

The Nordkette with snow-covered meadows seen from the southwest. The white in the valley will soon be history again.(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

In Innsbruck, February 2024 was an incredible 5.5 degrees warmer than the long-term average. Across Austria, the deviation was even more than six degrees - more than ever before in the 256-year measurement series.

Friday's snowfall paints a false picture. February 2024 has so far been as warm as an average March - and nothing will change in the final week.

The Bildstöckl will soon lose its "snow load".(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

"Across Austria, February temperatures are more than six degrees above the 30-year annual average," says meteorologist Nikolas Zimmermann from the UBIMET weather service, shaking his head in disbelief. "In the 256-year history of measurements, there has never been such a large deviation in one month," he says, hardly able to believe the development.

One month ahead in temperatures
Although not by more than six degrees, Innsbruck has so far been 5.5 degrees above the long-term average. Zimmermann: "In terms of temperatures, we are a month ahead."

At the weekend, these trees in the Innsbruck area were still covered in snow.(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

The trend has continued over the last four days of February. Some snow will still fall on the main Alpine ridge, the Brenner Pass and in East Tyrol on Monday, but it will remain foehn and mostly dry in the rest of Tyrol. Temperatures will remain above average. "Monday and Tuesday will see highs between nine and twelve degrees, only in East Tyrol will they be lower - at six degrees in Lienz," says the expert.

Saharan dust on the way
From the middle of the week, Sahara dust will cloud (long-range) visibility in Tyrol. It will be particularly noticeable from Thursday. At the same time, there will be a mix of clouds and sun. In any case, it should remain mostly dry in North Tyrol.