Industry News
Saturday has brought more snow to the northeastern Alps. As a cold front from the north brings Arctic cold to the Alps, a storm front from Italy is bringing record precipitation to the Alps. Some regions are counting in excess of 1 meter (3 feet) at this stage and it’s not letting up. The weather will continue while the snowline will hover between 1,100-1,700 meters (3,600-5,570 feet)
The cold front and snowfall have also surprised migratory birds, which are sadly dying by the thousands. The birds struggle to find shelter from the rain and snow and cannot find insects for survival, leading to death from starvation and exhaustion.
Search and rescue teams in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany have had to rescue several hikers who had gotten stuck in the weather conditions despite the existing weather warnings. One man is presumed dead in Karwendel, Austria, where an avalanche surprised a group of hikers who decided to abandon their hiking weekend on Saturday morning. The man has not yet been found due to inclement weather, which makes search and rescue efforts dangerous. One search and rescue member was injured in an avalanche while looking for the missing man.
Alpine police and local authorities are urging people to shelter in place and avoid unnecessary travel. While higher-lying areas have been doused in snow, low-lying areas have experienced torrential rains. Several dams are close to overflowing in Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland, where more than 400mm of rain has fallen. In Germany and Austria, several rivers, including the Danube, have experienced flooding and have swept away cars. Several people have been confirmed dead so far, and the weather front has not passed yet. An estimated 30 deaths have occurred from fallen trees, drowning, lightning strikes, and avalanches.
— Simone Stribl (@SimoneStribl) September 15, 2024
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