Spring-like weather

Lack of snow: first ski resorts close

Last day of operation: The Holzmeister lifts on the Styrian Sommeralm closed for the year on Sunday.

(Bild: zVg)

Styria is not very wintry during the semester break. Spring-like temperatures are melting the slopes at lower altitudes. Larger ski resorts, on the other hand, still have a solid snow cushion and are enjoying a huge rush of visitors. 

The semester break in Styria feels more like Easter this year: Temperatures in the double digits and glorious sunshine don't exactly put you in a winter mood.

Last day of skiing on the Sommeralm
Smaller ski resorts are increasingly under pressure due to the persistently spring-like weather. On the Sommeralm, for example, skiing is already partly over: "It is with a heavy heart that we are starting the last operating day of this season today due to the snow conditions," was posted on the Holzmeister lifts' Facebook page on Sunday. 

Last day of operation: The Holzmeister lifts on the Styrian Sommeralm closed on Sunday for this year.

(Bild: zVg)

"Unfortunately, the end comes two or three weeks too early, but with the temperatures, we can't even make snow overnight," says operator Wolfgang Wiltschnigg, but is still satisfied: "Last year we had the problem around Christmas, but this year we had great conditions. So far, the season has generally been great in terms of visitor numbers."

There is still unrestricted skiing fun at the Pirstingerkogellift on the Sommeralm. 

"There is still enough snow"
Especially in larger ski resorts at higher altitudes, the mild weather is seen more calmly thanks to a solid snow cushion. "Even though we have spring-like temperatures and the landscape is hardly wintry, there's enough snow on the slopes all the way down to the valley," says Fabrice Girardoni, spokesperson for the Styrian cable car operators.

Fantastic conditions on the Turracher Höhe on Sunday.

(Bild: Stoimaier)

Booking situation "very good" across the board
"Thanks to the pleasing amount of natural snow at the start of winter and, of course, artificial snowmaking, we have created a base that allows us to get through bad times like now." The rush of day guests and the booking situation in accommodation establishments across all Styrian regions is very good.

Even though we have spring-like temperatures and the landscape is hardly wintry, there is plenty of snow on the slopes all the way down to the valley

Fabrice Girardoni, Spartensprecher der steirischen Seilbahnbetreiber

This was also confirmed on Sunday by Kreischberg and Lachtal boss Karl Fussi: "In Lachtal we even have a beautiful winter landscape thanks to the altitude, and on Kreischberg the runs down to the valley are also great. We are currently very popular, especially with many Dutch visitors." 

Is winter returning?
However, the weather is unlikely to change much over the next few days: "On Monday, it may rain again and again in the valleys of Upper Styria, and a little fresh snow is also possible at higher altitudes," says Ubimet meteorologist Nikolaus Zimmermann. On Thursday, foehn-like weather heralds an approaching cold front, and temperatures could then drop again from Friday. "At least in western Upper Styria, there could be significant amounts of fresh snow again," says the weather expert.