Austria is preparing for impending floods. Weather services have predicted unusually heavy rainfall, especially for the eastern part of the country, with expected flooding and landslides. At the same time, a cold snap has caused the snow line to drop temporarily below 1000 meters after high summer temperatures persisted until mid-September. Due to the rainfall, roads and railways have already been closed.
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen made a video appeal to the public to behave cautiously and to help each other in case of emergency. The office of the Federal Chancellor in Vienna stated, “Fire brigades, civil protection, police, and the federal army are on high alert to assist wherever support is needed.”
Locally up to 300 millimeters of rain expected
The state meteorological service Geosphere Austria announced that it is expected that between Friday and early Tuesday, 100 to 200 millimeters of rain will fall in most parts of Austria. One millimeter corresponds to one liter per square meter. Locally, up to 300 millimeters and more are expected, particularly in the mountainous and hilly regions of Lower and Upper Austria. Such amounts of rain are very unusual. In Vienna, 200 millimeters statistically occur every 150 to 200 years, and in the northern foothills of the Alps every 70 to 75 years, climatologist Alexander Orlik is quoted as saying.
A situation meeting of the state crisis and disaster management is scheduled in the Interior Ministry in Vienna for Saturday afternoon to coordinate measures and assistance. Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer has temporarily canceled all planned campaign events for the National Council election in two weeks.
A Danube flood is expected, occurring on average once every 15 years
The strongest rainfall is expected in Lower Austria and Vienna, where it has been raining almost continuously since Thursday evening. The provincial government announced an assessment that along the Danube, a flood is expected, which statistically occurs once every 15 years; at the tributaries, “there may locally be up to hundred-year floods.” The weather situation is leading to a “critical situation for the entire state” of Lower Austria. In the further western Upper Austria, preparations are also underway by emergency services, especially along the Danube and its tributaries. In the alpine regions of Austria, the unusually early snowfall is causing difficulties.
To prepare for the expected water volumes, mobile flood protection systems are being erected, sandbags filled, and retreat areas created. Dams have been opened to release water and build capacity for the upcoming rain peaks. Numerous events have been canceled, from football matches to the “Star Night from Wachau” planned for next week. In Graz, the traditional “Aufsteirern” has been canceled, for which around 100,000 visitors were expected downtown over the weekend.
The snow in the Alps mitigates acute flood risk
In the mountains, emergency services and fire brigades have had to respond to rescue motorists who were caught off guard by the snow without winter tires, and to clear roads blocked by fallen trees. Since deciduous trees have not yet shed their leaves, they bear particularly heavy snow loads and break more easily than in winter. At the same time, the snow in the Alps reduces the immediate flood risk there, as it temporarily holds back the water.
Van der Bellen thanked the helpers, whether professionally or voluntarily involved in the effort, in his video message. The expected severe weather situation will “test us all” in the coming hours and days. The top priority is to “be there for each other,” said the head of state. “Perhaps the neighbor family needs help securing their basement or the neighbor who is less mobile would appreciate if someone could do their shopping.”
Postpone non-essential travel
The automobile club ÖAMTC and other organizations have called for people to refrain from unnecessary car trips in the coming days. The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) also advised postponing non-essential travel. Tickets already booked for the upcoming days will be refunded. Vienna International Airport reported disruptions and delays.
According to Geosphere Austria, the cause of the heavy rainfall and snow is a weather pattern referred to in technical language as a Vb weather situation (pronounced “five-be”). A Vb weather situation occurs when a low pressure area moves from the western Mediterranean over Italy, Austria, and Hungary to Poland. It arises when cold polar air from the north flows over the Alps and meets the warm air over the Mediterranean.
The city of Vienna announced it is preparing for a Danube flood. It relies on the flood protection measures expanded in the last 30 years. The Danube Island, measuring 21 kilometers in length and about 210 meters in width, is a huge protective structure that flanks the New Danube as a relief channel for the river. During high water, the New Danube, which is normally a standing body of water, relieves the main river.
Authorities in downstream countries are also preparing for flooding. In Slovakia, in the region of Zahorie bordering Austria and the Czech Republic, areas are being deliberately flooded. In cooperation with the fire department, suitable areas are already being selected for this purpose, said Environment Minister Tomas Taraba to the news agency TASR. The flood of the border river March is to be diverted if necessary before reaching the Danube in Bratislava. The Slovak capital is located at the confluence of the Danube and March in the tri-border area with Hungary and Austria. Taraba anticipates a once-in-a-century flood of the March, as he said.
In Budapest, streets along the lower Danube bank have been closed as a precaution. Since Friday, parking is prohibited, the administration of the Hungarian capital announced. The peak of the flood is expected there only by mid-next week at around eight meters. The Hungarian armed forces have also been placed on alert. “Our resources, including land and air technical equipment, will be made available for the protection of the public,” assured army chief Gábor Böröndi.