Category: Austrian News

The year 2026 got off to a chilly start, with January coming in about one degree colder than the long-term average from 1991 to 2020. Looking further back, however, paints a different picture. Compared to the reference period from 1961 to 1990, January 2026 would actually be considered normal — even around 0.5 degrees warmer than average, according to meteorologists at the weather service Ubimet.“This is yet another sign of how climate change has already shifted our perception and reference points,” the experts noted. Foehn Winds Push Temperatures Up February…

Read More

Vienna, February 2 – The Snow Moon, the traditional full moon of February, is lighting up the skies over Austria this week. Although it is not classified as a supermoon, the celestial body appears noticeably larger between February 1 and 3, depending on local weather conditions. Weather Challenges for Stargazers On Monday evening, heavy fog made viewing difficult, while forecasts for Tuesday predict overcast skies and possible nighttime snowfall. Still, in regions with clear skies, the distinctive glow of the Snow Moon can be seen with the naked eye. Best…

Read More

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.…

Read More

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…

Read More

Austria’s motorway users are facing an important deadline: the current toll sticker (Vignette) is valid only until January 31, meaning anyone who has not yet purchased the new edition needs to act quickly. From Sunday, February 1, only the new fire‑red Vignette will be accepted on all Austrian motorways and expressways. The Vignette remains a legal requirement for all cars and motorcycles using these roads. Prices have increased compared to last year: a yearly pass for cars now costs 106.80 euros, while motorcycles pay 42.70 euros. Digital Vignette on the…

Read More

Austria experienced its coldest lowland January since 2017, according to the preliminary climate report released by Geosphere Austria. Mountain regions also saw their chilliest January since 2021. Despite the cold, much of the country remained relatively dry and sunny. Climatologist Alexander Orlik of Geosphere Austria noted that January 2026 stood out sharply against recent decades. “Compared to the more recent past, January 2026 was significantly too cold. Around 40 years ago, however, these temperatures would have been considered fairly normal,” he explained. Temperatures Well Below Recent Averages In the lowlands,…

Read More

The school bell rings for the last time this Friday before nearly half a million students in Vienna and Lower Austria head into their week‑long semester break. Before they pack their bags, pupils receive their mid‑year school reports, giving them an overview of their academic performance halfway through the school year. With the start of the holidays, traffic authorities are preparing for heavy congestion on Vienna’s main exit routes from Friday afternoon onward. Travel delays are also expected on Saturday, particularly on roads leading to popular ski resorts, as many…

Read More

Austria is facing a sharp rise in sophisticated telephone scams, many of them using spoofed numbers that appear local, official, or even police‑related. These scams are evolving quickly, targeting vulnerable individuals and exploiting trust in familiar institutions. The New Face of Phone Fraud in Austria Telephone scams are not new, but the current wave sweeping Austria is more polished, more convincing, and more technologically advanced than anything seen before. Authorities and consumer‑protection agencies warn that the surge in spoofed caller IDs, fake police calls, and ghost calls is creating a…

Read More

After weeks of grey skies, Vienna can finally look forward to several hours of sunshine on Tuesday, 27 January. Forecasts suggest that bright, clear conditions will dominate across the entire city, offering a welcome break from the persistent winter gloom. Meteorologists expect the sun to show its best side throughout the morning and early afternoon. However, the improvement won’t last: as the day progresses, dense high fog is forecast to move in gradually from the southeast, dimming the sunshine later on. Winds will remain weak to moderate, shifting from west…

Read More