In Styria

Storm damage: 4000 households without power

Snow and storms had Ramsau in their grip on Saturday.

(Bild: (c) Martin Huber – all rights reserved)

As expected, increasingly heavy squalls are hitting Styria: 10,000 households are currently without power - trees are constantly falling, blocking roads and keeping the fire departments on their toes. Gusts of up to 120 km/h have already hit the mountains! Intense rain is also expected in the north of Styria.

"It's a hole-on-hole game", says Urs Harnik, spokesman for Energie Steiermark. Trees were blown down by "gale-force gusts of wind", which in turn damaged power lines. As a result, 10,000 Styrian households were affected by power cuts by Saturday evening. The hotspots still stretch from Graz to Leibnitz and into Upper Styria - St. Stefan im Rosental was also hit particularly hard.

"The wind peaks have become stronger over the course of the day", says Harnik, "it is still unclear how the situation will develop." The fitters are working non-stop on the dangerous repair work. They are probably in for an intensive weekend.

Energie Steiermark employees are working at full speed.

(Bild: Energie Steiermark)

The employees of Energie Steiermark are working at full speed.

(Bild: Energie Steiermark)

Fire departments in storm operations
The fire departments are also under pressure: Since the beginning of the extreme weather situation, over 300 storm operations have been registered across Styria - on Saturday alone, more than 107 fire departments with over 750 emergency personnel were called out. The main problem is fallen trees, according to spokesman Thomas Meier. The focus is currently on the northern outskirts of Graz, Weiz, Hartberg and Voitsberg.

The heavy rain has played a minor role in Styria so far: "At the moment we only have storm operations, there has not yet been any flooding," says Meier. During the night, however, they are prepared for rain operations in Upper Styria. Vehicles stuck in the snow have already had to be rescued here. In the evening hours, the first mudslides occurred in Liezen - the fire departments had to stack sandbags.

Trees also fell in Graz, here in the district of Gösting.

(Bild: Jörg Schwaiger)

Wind peaks of up to 120 km/h
Harald Eitner from the provincial warning center also confirms this situation: "The wind is the widespread problem that will continue on Sunday." For example, 111 km/h have already been measured in Hartberg and even peaks of 120 km/h in the mountains. Many cable cars were shut down for safety reasons. "The rain could only become critical from Ausseerland to Mariazellerland, especially on the northern feeder roads to the Mürz," says Eitner.

Trees are falling all the time, here in Pöllau for example.

(Bild: FF Pöllau)

According to meteorologist Martin Kulmer (Geosphere), the heavy rain in the north is getting heavier overnight. By Monday, a further 150 to 200 liters could be added to the "northern congestion" from Aussee to Mariazell, "even more in some places", according to Kulmer. Another 100 liters are also possible in the Mürztal, but it will be significantly less in the south.

Please help!

The flood situation in the country is getting worse - the "Krone" with our large family of readers and Caritas want to help those affected by the storms quickly and unbureaucratically. Volunteers who want to lend a hand can register online at fuereinand.at.

Caritas donation account:

Keyword "Katastrophenhilfe Österreich"
Erste Bank
BIC: GIBAATWWXXX
IBAN: AT 23 2011 1000 0123 4560

Flood hotline for those affected:
05/177 63 00 8 (9 am to 6 pm)

On Saturday, the snow line in Ennstal and Ausseerland was at 1200 meters above sea level, in Mariazellerland at 1500 meters. The valleys therefore seem to be spared the snow. 

Big risk on the mountains!
"The rain situation is better than feared, the wind situation is worse than expected", summarizes Harald Eitner, Head of Civil Protection. The wind peaks in the valleys in particular are stronger than expected. The peak is expected on Sunday night. The associated power cuts are a particular cause for concern: as the technicians cannot get everywhere at the moment, some households are likely to be without power until Monday.

Eitner appeals to people not to succumb to the temptation of the first snow and not to plan any ski tours: There is great risk in the high mountains. 

Minister Leonore Gewessler visited the Asfinag traffic control center in Graz.

(Bild: BMK/Caj Perwein)

Gewessler visits Asfinag
Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) visited Asfinag's traffic management center in Graz on Saturday instead of the cancelled Aufsteirern Festival. "Many thanks to the Asfinag employees and traffic managers who ensure safety throughout the country, be it on the roads, in the Alpine regions or in tunnels." Gewessler warns of mudslides and flooding. "So please take care of yourself and your fellow human beings. Follow the information provided by the emergency services."

Railroad line to Friedberg closed
ÖBB continues to advise against non-essential rail travel: In the Styrian-Lower Austrian border area, a mudslide between Aspang and Friedberg is already causing a closure that will remain in place until at least Monday evening. There have been few closures on the road network so far - only the B 114 Triebener Straße is impassable until further notice due to fallen trees.