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Austria is already feeling the unmistakable effects of climate change. Melting glaciers, more frequent extreme weather events such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall, and shifting precipitation patterns are reshaping the country’s water balance. A new study titled “Water in a Changing Climate” now provides a clearer picture of how these developments will intensify in the coming decades — and the findings are sobering.
Precipitation Shifts: Less in Summer, More in Winter
According to the preliminary results, Austria will see a marked redistribution of rainfall and snowfall. By the middle of the century, summer precipitation is expected to decrease by 5 to 15 percent, while the colder half of the year will see an increase of 5 to 10 percent.
Although the annual amount of precipitation is projected to remain roughly the same, rising temperatures will lead to higher evaporation rates. As a result, less water will remain in the soil, intensifying drought stress during the warm months.
Eastern Austria Faces Growing Water Challenges
The seasonal shift poses particular challenges for lowland regions, where water management is already strained. Drier summers will increase irrigation needs precisely when less water is available. This imbalance could become especially problematic in eastern Austria, where precipitation levels are naturally lower.
Areas such as the Seewinkel, the Weinviertel, and the northern Waldviertel are not only drier but also warmer than the wetter regions of western Austria. Higher temperatures accelerate evaporation, further reducing water availability.
“The task of distributing water from the surplus months in winter to the shortage periods in summer will become increasingly important,” explains Klaus Haslinger, hydroclimatologist at GeoSphere Austria.
Intense Downpours Raise Flood Risks
One trend already evident in measurement data is the increasing intensity of rainfall events. In summer, precipitation often falls in short, powerful bursts — for example during thunderstorms — raising the risk of local flash floods.
However, the link between climate change and large-scale flooding caused by prolonged rainfall remains less clear. Scientists have not yet been able to conclusively determine how rising temperatures influence the formation of major weather systems such as Adriatic lows. Complex hydrological processes also play a role in shaping the extent and severity of widespread flooding.
Study to Be Completed in 2026
The preliminary findings come from GeoSphere Austria in cooperation with TU Wien, the University of Graz, and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU). Commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment, the full report is expected in autumn 2026.
- source: kurier.at/picture: pixabay.com
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