Heavy storms hit parts of Austria on Saturday and left a trail of devastation: The rain showers on Saturday triggered several mudslides in the Ötztal and Zillertal in Tyrol. There were also mudslides, flash floods on streets and flooded cellars in Salzburg. A plane crashed in Styria. According to meteorologists, the risk of storms has not yet been averted.
AUSTRIA. Heavy rains caused several mudslides in the Ötztal and Zillertal in Tyrol. Around 2.15 p.m., mud and rubble tore a bridge in a side stream of the Ötztaler Ache. Two mudslides also tore down two wooden bridges near Sölden. In the Zillertal, Muren trapped cars in Ginzling. A motorcyclist was also swept away and injured by the mud.
Rotation of the thunderstorm cell east of #Graz (Time lapse). It’s going to be tough! (Graz Gösting) ⛈️ #storm#thunderstorm#steiermarkpic.twitter.com/9BOhSC1zdk
– ???????????? Start @ (@hasipeter) August 22, 2020
Mudslides in Salzburg
There were also mudslides, flash floods on streets and flooded cellars in Salzburg. On the Tauern Autobahn, traffic came to a standstill for a short time. Due to the mass of water, visibility was so poor that it was out of the question to continue. Several mudslides fell on the B163, the emergency services reported several mudslides. Heavy flooding caused chaos in Altenmarkt and Kleinarl.
Lower Austria under water
Lower Austria was also badly affected by the storms. According to the emergency services, large areas of the Krems and Melk districts were literally flooded. This is also shown by the video on Twitter, where a flooded soccer field can be seen. According to the fire department, houses were up to one and a half meters in the water. In the Mostviertel in Mank, a wedding is said to have been “flooded”.
# Floods after the violent #Thunderstorm in Rohrbach im Graben near Ternitz (district NK), #Hagel ca. 2cm#Storm# Heavy rainpic.twitter.com/JzZLbWEeHn
— Storm Science Austria (@StormAustria) August 22, 2020
Cut off from the outside world
Numerous localities are cut off from the outside world due to the floods and the masses of water. Heavy hail has also caused massive damage to the fields all over Austria. In addition to vehicles that were badly damaged, fields and crops in agriculture were also destroyed.
Hail plane crashed in Styria
In Styria, violent thunderstorms fell in the greater Graz area. As reported by mein district.at, hail, squalls, thunderstorms and heavy rain reached the Voitsberg district in the evening, around 8 p.m. 19 of the 29 fire brigades in our area were already on duty to clear roads, pump out cellars and clear blockages. By 9 p.m. there were already 22 fire brigades. In the Köflach area there was also strong hail in some places, and in the entire Unterland the weirs were busy clearing trees from streets. “The amount of water is quite a problem,” said Area Commander Christian Leitgeb. “Only the area of Graden, Geistthal, Södingberg was spared this time.” A hail defense aircraft crashed in the Hochgößnitz area shortly after 6 p.m. In the wake of the severe storm, the aircraft got into turbulence and the pilot was no longer able to prevent the crash. According to reports, a hail defense aircraft crashed in action. Both pilots survived but were seriously injured. You are currently being cared for in hospitals.
Soccer field Mank (Lower Austria). Video is from today???? pic.twitter.com/VJWfPpRW7r
– Martin Scherb (@MartinScherb) August 22, 2020
That’s what I call storms! pic.twitter.com/jWnEfRSRbj
– Big Michael (@KeMiKatho) August 22, 2020
More thunderstorms on Sunday
According to meteorologists, the danger of storms is not over yet: In the east there are last rain showers in the morning, but in the morning it loosens here and the sun shines at times, but this is deceptive. But from East Tyrol to Upper Styria, rain clouds form again from midday onwards, which can spread over the Vienna Woods. Heavy thunderstorms are to be expected especially in the south. The maximum values between 19 and 28 degrees.
Graz is experiencing another violent thunderstorm and hail must be expected. Warnings: https://t.co/x7qyKVR68d#Grazpic.twitter.com/VfgOC6X2Kr
– uwz.at (@uwz_at) August 22, 2020
Heavy rains on Monday
On Monday there will be heavy rains, especially along the main Alpine ridge and in the south. In the north and east, on the other hand, it usually stays dry with a mix of sun and clouds; it is friendliest in the Waldviertel and Weinviertel. Temperatures remain subdued at 18 to 26 degrees. Tuesday is dry, during the day the sun shines at least temporarily, cumulus clouds form in the mountains and, especially from the Tyrolean Alpine ridge to Upper Styria, occasional rain showers fall in the afternoon.
There was a storm with us today:
Otherwise nothing else happened. #storm warning#unwetteraustriapic.twitter.com/r1rPazE2w7
— Hope M. Hansen | 53 (@_OrphicLacuna_) August 22, 2020
Mudslides in Aschbach and Sölden
Hail defense plane crashed in Hochgößnitz
21 fire brigades in action: Another storm and building fire in the Deutschlandsberg district
Two helicopters in action – ambulances damaged by the hail
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