Severe Weather Hits Western Austria
Heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms in popular Austrian destinations such as Zillertal and Bad Gastein have caused landslides and stream overflows, with six hikers evacuated by helicopter.
Heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms in popular Austrian destinations such as Zillertal and Bad Gastein have caused landslides and stream overflows, with six hikers evacuated by helicopter.
Severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain triggered localized flooding and mudslides in western parts of Austria on Thursday, August 6, 2026. The hardest-hit areas were mountainous regions in the federal states of Tyrol and Salzburg, including popular tourist destinations.
According to Tyrolean police, three mudslides came down from the slopes in the Zillertal region, a favorite destination for many tourists, on Thursday evening. The mud temporarily blocked local roads, hampering movement. Firefighters in the cities of Innsbruck and Kitzbühel had to respond to flooded basements and streets, as reported by the Austrian news agency APA, adding that no one was injured.
In the federal state of Salzburg, torrents overflowed their banks. In the municipality of Uttendorf, which was particularly affected, rescue teams were on duty throughout the night. Austrian public broadcaster ORF, citing the provincial fire service, reported that the Tobersbach stream overflowed, and water seeped onto roads, farms, and fields.
Mudslides were also recorded in the tourist towns of Dorfgastein and Bad Gastein. Eleven people were trapped at a mountain hut near Bad Gastein. Six hikers were evacuated by military helicopter on Thursday evening, while the hut's staff chose to remain on site.
This dramatic storm came after a heat record of 41.2 degrees Celsius was measured on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in the town of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg near the Slovak border. It was already the second historic temperature maximum in the country within a few days. Central Europe is currently experiencing an exceptional heatwave and drought, followed by devastating thunderstorms.
