Austria is heading into a notably changeable start to February, with a mix of sunshine, fog, snowfall and a Mediterranean low-pressure system shaping the week ahead. According to the Hohe Warte and Geosphere Austria, temperatures will swing widely: while mornings may still bring frost and sub-zero readings, some afternoons could climb into the double‑digit plus range.
Monday: Sunshine in the West, Fog and Clouds Elsewhere
The workweek opens with contrasting conditions across the country. Western regions can expect mostly sunny skies, while low-lying areas begin the day shrouded in fog. Dense cloud cover dominates the east and southeast, accompanied by occasional light snowfall. By Monday afternoon, brighter intervals are expected to develop there as well.
Winds blow moderately from the east to the south. Morning temperatures range from –11°C to 0°C, rising to between –1°C and +9°C during the day, with the warmest values again in the west.
Tuesday: Rain, Snow and Föhn Winds
On Tuesday, precipitation moves in from the south, bringing rain or snow as the day progresses. A southwesterly airflow piles thick clouds against the Alps, pushing the snow line upward from around 800 metres to nearly 1,300 metres. Elsewhere, extensive cloud fields drift northward, allowing only brief sunny spells.
Stubborn fog lingers in the northeast. Along the Alpine main ridge, föhn winds strengthen significantly, while eastern Austria experiences moderate to brisk southeasterly to southerly winds. Morning temperatures range from –10°C to +2°C, with daytime values spanning –1°C to +11°C depending on fog, sunshine and föhn influence.
Wednesday: Grey Skies and Widespread Cloud Cover
Midweek conditions remain predominantly dull. Dense clouds and persistent fog dominate, with only brief morning bright spells along the northern side of the Alps. Western Austria stays mostly dry throughout the day, while rain sets in across the east and south, easing only gradually overnight.
The snow line hovers around 1,500 metres. Winds remain mostly light to moderate, though the Danube region may see livelier easterly gusts. Forecasts call for morning temperatures between –5°C and +2°C and daytime highs from 0°C to +9°C, again warmest in the west and at mid‑elevations.
Thursday: Foggy Basins, Sun in the Mountains
Thursday continues the unsettled pattern. Many basins and lowlands begin with persistent fog or low stratus clouds, which may be slow to clear. The east sees rain or sleet, with the snow line fluctuating between 500 and 1,000 metres.
In contrast, the west and higher terrain enjoy occasional sunshine, though passing clouds remain a feature. Winds blow lightly to moderately from the south. Morning temperatures sit between –3°C and +3°C, with daytime values reaching 3°C to 10°C—and even higher in sunny mountain areas.
Friday: Mediterranean Low Brings More Clouds and Rain
A Mediterranean low intensifies the grey, damp conditions on Friday. Thick cloud cover dominates most of the day, with brief bright intervals in the east during the morning and in the west later in the afternoon.
Rain is expected mainly in western Austria, while the east stays largely dry until evening. The snow line rises to between 1,000 and 1,500 metres. Winds remain light to moderate from varying directions. Morning temperatures range from –5°C to +3°C, with daytime highs between 1°C and 10°C, warmest in the Rhine Valley.
- source: vienna.at/picture: pixabay.com
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