White start to the week

Industrial snow covers Graz in a thin blanket of snow

If there is no "real" snow, at least industrial snow creates a winter atmosphere in Graz.

(Bild: Jauschowetz Christian)

A rare weather phenomenon caused "sugared" roofs in the Styrian capital on Monday morning. Persistent high-pressure weather and dense high fog caused industrial snow to fall in parts of Graz.

"Real" snow is a rarity this winter in Graz and generally in the south of the country. Nevertheless, parts of the provincial capital were slightly covered in snow at the start of the week. However, this is not due to conventional precipitation, but so-called industrial snow.

The conditions for this are currently in place, explains Geosphere meteorologist Hannes Rieder: "You need an area of high pressure, a high fog situation and a temperature reversal. In other words, it's warmer on the Schöckl than in the valley." If water vapor from industrial plants then mixes into the fog, "there is a local oversaturation of moisture and snow crystals and ice needles form and fall down."

This man-made weather phenomenon occurs around one to three times per winter in the Graz conurbation. "However, it has become less frequent in recent years, which is partly due to the changes caused by climate change," says Rieder.