Weather balance sheet

Record set: Far too wet and far too warm

(Bild: APA/BARBARA GINDL)

Yesterday, February 29, marks the end of meteorological winter and spring is knocking at the door. The cold season was far too mild this year. The winter wonderland failed to materialize.

This winter was not one for the books. "There was twice as much precipitation as usual. 850 liters per square meter of precipitation fell on the Loibl. And the temperatures were far too mild. This also meant that there was hardly any snow in the valleys and basins," says weather expert Michele Salmi from Ubimet, taking stock of the meteorological spring that began today.

Cold phase did not last long
There was a brief outbreak of cold in Weitensfeld in mid-January with temperatures of minus 16 degrees. However, the cold phase did not last long. The absolute top value was delivered by Millstatt at the beginning of February with 19.8 degrees, which was more reminiscent of a spring awakening. In Upper Carinthia, temperatures were four degrees above average, in Lower Carinthia even ten degrees above average. The sun also made its presence felt on the mountains, shining for around 430 hours on the Kanzelhöhe and Dobratsch. In contrast to Klagenfurt, where 300 hours of sunshine were recorded, which corresponds to the long-term average.

What the coming month will be like
"From today's perspective, the temperatures in March will slowly start to drop next week," says Salmi. For the first few days of spring, however, it will be mild and slightly stable. Highs will be between 10 and 13 degrees. It will be fresher, with single-digit values, from 1000 meters upwards.