As heavy rains lashed Alpine regions of Austria over the weekend, causing severe damage and disrupting transport, the picturesque ski resort of St. Anton and parts of Vienna bore the brunt of the torrential downpour.
Footage shared on social media captured the fast-moving muddy waters sweeping cars through St. Anton, while record rainfall inundated Vienna, leading to flooding in the Doebling area that left a woman critically injured. The capital saw fire services responding to over 450 calls, dealing with traffic chaos and disrupted rail services, according to state broadcaster ORF.
“Heavy storms have done great damage in many parts of Austria,” acknowledged Chancellor Karl Nehammer, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to clear the aftermath.
Vienna’s Doebling district recorded 110 litres of rain per square meter, setting an August rainfall record for the city, as confirmed by ORF meteorologist Kevin Hebenstreit. Data from weather firm UBIMET highlighted that a significant portion of Vienna’s average summer rainfall occurred in just one hour, far exceeding the usual patterns for the month.
August typically sees around 68 litres of rainfall per square meter in Vienna, with the all-time record standing at 139 litres on May 15, 1885, as reported by ORF.
