Ski Austria

Welcome to the Ski Austria page, providing a regular round-up of the skiing conditions and current snow reports for the main ski resorts in the Austrian Alps. Over recent years some of the most consistent good piste conditions have been reported at Kaprun, Zurs, Obergurgl, St Anton, Hintertux, Neustift, Lech and Pitztal showing a mix of glacial resorts and those most exposed to prevailing storm tracks.

However, in any given week or season the best slope conditions may be found at any of the other high Austrian resorts or at lower elevation ski stations in poor weather.

For off-piste powder, resorts such as Kuhtai, Kaprun, Galtur, St Anton, Lech, Zurs, Obertauern and Ischgl have proven among the most consistent over the seasons, either brought on by regular snowfalls, favourable sun aspect or for not getting tracked out quickly. It is worth noting that while St Anton is an off-piste mecca it does get extremely busy and the lift accessed routes get tracked very quickly, however, it does benefit from regular heavy snowfalls.

Austrians have a very relaxed policy when it comes to skiing or boarding off-piste, however it is important to observe the warnings because Austria has its fair share of avalanche fatalities. Check out the snow reports below for the latest news as conditions change quickly in the Alps. Generally the best snow conditions arrive in Austria with weather systems tracking in from the north and northwest but you can expect snow from any direction producing reliable snow cover at most of the higher altitude resorts.

Austria is one of the world’s six leading ski nations and has played a crucial role in the development of downhill skiing over the past century.

There are more than 600 Austrian ski resorts of all sizes that fill every corner of the country, from the famous mountainous regions of Tirol and Stiermark in the West to the rolling hills of Eastern Austria.

Unlike in its Alpine neighbours, purpose build ski resorts are a real rarity in Austria. Although many of the country’s most famous resorts have been 95% built from scratch due to their success and expansion over the past 60 years, almost all new building is to strict planning regulations in the classic chalet style so villages always look attractive and it’s hard to know what is 2 years old and what 200.

Critics of Austrian skiing say that as a result of not building ski resorts on mountain tops most Austrian resorts are low – ranging from perhaps 600 to 1000m above sea level, and often their top lifts are below 2000m – which, the argument goes, can be bad news for snow cover.

In fact one of the most famous resorts criticised for that, Kitzbühel, published stats showing that their snow cover is little changed in the past 50 years. Perhaps, on average, arriving a day sooner and ending a day later than in the 1960s, but otherwise fairly constant.

Austria also beats its neighbours, and indeed any other country in the world, for glacier skiing. For much of those seven months of the year from May to November when few ski areas are open, up to eight glacier ski areas are open to ski Austria when no more than three are open in any other country north of the equator. These include the country’s highest ski lift at Pitztal Glacier 3440m.

Skiing in Austria was the most popular destination choice for British skiers in the 1970s and 1980s and remains second most popular after France. It lacks the vast ski areas of the French Alps – the largest region the slightly tenuous connection between the 280km of the Skiwelt and 160km or so around Kitzbühel, but Austria’s fans point out the terrain is more varied with runs down through the forest; friendly wooden mountain restaurants to stop off at, rather than vast motorway-services style concrete-cafeterias, and prices are generally 10 or 20% less for a lift ticket too.

The fore-runner of the style of downhill skiing we all enjoy today actually began in those smaller hills near Vienna. Pioneer Mathias Zdarsky developed it from the Norwegian Telemark technique invented 40 years earlier in to the first ‘Alpine’ style in 1905 and taught thousands of people the basics, many in huge 100+ people classes. Within a few years the Arlberg technique had appeared in St Anton, pioneered this time by one Johann ‘Hannes’ Schneider, which further developed downhill and popularised skiing worldwide as Schneider appeared in films and took the invention to Japan before going to the US when asked to support the Nazis. Instead he helped train the US Army mountain division, veterans from which were in turn behind the post-war development of ski areas in the Western US states like Colorado.
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Austria: latest snow conditions round-up


AUSTRIA REPORT Austria continues to be the European country with the most ski areas still open, but with two of its glacier ski areas Kaunertal and Stubai) closing last weekend and two more (the Kitzsteinhorn above Kaprun and Carinthia's Molltal) expected to close after this coming weekend, it will be down to just one, year-round Hintertux, as the only area open from Monday.

That's the same total of one that the other three major Alpine nations each have open. The weather has continued to be cold with frequent snow showers. This, coupled with low visibility, has led to several ski areas closing their slopes for periods out of safety concerns, through the last week. For now, the Kitzsteinhorn (0/270cm / 0/108") has around 17km (11 miles) of slopes open including a reshaped terrain park, and the Molltal (0/170cm / 0/68") has 8km (5 miles) of runs. Hintertux (0/320cm / 0/128") continues to post the deepest base in the Alps and the most terrain open with 32km (20 miles) of slopes still skiable there.

Summary of forecast snowfall and ski conditions for resorts in Austria. Fresh snow is forecast at 31 resorts. Powder is reported at 0 resorts and 1 are reporting good piste conditions.

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A–D

E–F G–G H–J K–K L–M N–Q R–R S–S T–Z Best piste conditions (1)

Ski resorts in Austria from A to D

Resort
snow depth
top and bottom

on-piste

off-piste

Last Snow

Next 9 Days
0–3 | 3–6 | 6–9
snow (cm)
Next 5 days weather forecast.
Freezing level (m)
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

(712m — 1200m)

snow report 19 days ago

opens in 199 days 1.0 cm
35 days ago
cloud thunderstorm rain showers thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 956 m
2850m 3300m 3100m 3000m 3050m

(950m — 1780m)

snow report 14 days ago

Achenkirch am Achensee webcam
opens in 199 days 1.0 cm
14 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm cloud thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 1365 m
2950m 3250m 3150m 3150m 3000m

(1107m — 1480m)

snow report 13 days ago

opens in 199 days 3.0 cm
14 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm thunderstorm light rain thunderstorm
Mid station 1294 m
2800m 3150m 3100m 2900m 3100m

(810m — 1810m)

snow report 5 days ago

opens in 191 days 6 cm
14 days ago
light rain thunderstorm thunderstorm rain showers light rain
Mid station 1310 m
2800m 3200m 3100m 2900m 3150m

(721m — 1201m)

snow report 5 days ago

opens in 199 days 1.0 cm
42 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm light rain
Mid station 961 m
3100m 3250m 3350m 3150m 2950m

(813m — 2025m)

snow report today

1.0 cm
14 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm rain showers thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 1419 m
2850m 3200m 3150m 3150m 3050m

(1000m — 1280m)

2.0 cm
42 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm thunderstorm cloud light rain
Mid station 1140 m
2750m 3200m 3100m 2800m 3150m

(750m — 1750m)

snow report today

3.0 cm
14 days ago
part cloud thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 1250 m
2850m 3300m 3100m 2900m 3050m

(655m — 1700m)

snow report 30 days ago

opens in 199 days 7 cm
36 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm light rain
Mid station 1178 m
3050m 3250m 3300m 3150m 2950m

(896m — 1300m)

snow report 5 days ago

opens in 199 days 2.0 cm
35 days ago
cloud thunderstorm rain showers thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 1098 m
2800m 3300m 3100m 2950m 3050m

(1349m — 1593m)

snow report 13 days ago

5 cm
14 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm thunderstorm part cloud light rain
Mid station 1471 m
2750m 3150m 3150m 2750m 3150m

(699m — 1551m)

snow report today

4 cm
42 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm mod rain light rain thunderstorm
Mid station 1125 m
2700m 3150m 3150m 3050m 3100m

(1310m — 1900m)

snow report 14 days ago

1.0 cm
14 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm rain showers thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 1605 m
2900m 3200m 3150m 3150m 3050m

(1560m — 2340m)

snow report today

2.0 cm
7 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm mod rain
Mid station 1950 m
2850m 3200m 3200m 3200m 3050m

(1079m — 2007m)

snow report 14 days ago

opens in 205 days 1.0 cm
14 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm thunderstorm mod rain light rain
Mid station 1543 m
2700m 3200m 3200m 3100m 3050m

(840m — 2300m)

snow report 14 days ago

Bad Hofgastein webcam
opens in 184 days 1.0 cm
14 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm thunderstorm mod rain light rain
Mid station 1570 m
2750m 3200m 3200m 3100m 3050m

(470m — 1415m)

2.0 cm
35 days ago
part cloud thunderstorm rain showers thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 942 m
2850m 3250m 3050m 2950m 3000m

(1100m — 2055m)

snow report 13 days ago

Bad Kleinkirchheim webcam
opens in 191 days 2.0 cm
14 days ago
light rain thunderstorm mod rain light rain thunderstorm
Mid station 1578 m
2700m 3150m 3150m 3000m 3050m

(1670m — 2120m)

snow report 14 days ago

opens in 199 days 7 cm
15 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm mod rain light rain thunderstorm
Mid station 1895 m
2700m 3150m 3150m 3050m 3050m

(1098m — 2231m)

snow report today

1.0 cm
14 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm mod rain
Mid station 1664 m
2850m 3200m 3200m 3200m 3050m

(1075m — 1740m)

snow report today

4 cm
15 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm part cloud thunderstorm mod rain
Mid station 1408 m
3050m 3200m 3200m 3150m 3000m

(1000m — 1800m)

snow report 14 days ago

opens in 199 days 4 cm
15 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm part cloud thunderstorm mod rain
Mid station 1400 m
3050m 3200m 3250m 3150m 3000m

(1167m — 1214m)

snow report 30 days ago

opens in 199 days 3.0 cm
36 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm rain showers thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 1190 m
2950m 3250m 3200m 3150m 3000m

(681m — 1700m)

6 cm
36 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm light rain
Mid station 1190 m
3050m 3200m 3300m 3150m 2950m

(1030m — 1201m)

snow report 30 days ago

opens in 199 days 3.0 cm
47 days ago
rain showers part cloud mod rain light rain thunderstorm
Mid station 1116 m
2750m 3150m 3100m 3000m 3200m

(964m — 1050m)

snow report today

1.0 cm
36 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm rain showers thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 1007 m
2950m 3250m 3200m 3150m 3000m

(891m — 2000m)

snow report today

2.0 cm
20 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm light rain
Mid station 1446 m
3000m 3200m 3250m 3200m 2950m

(421m — 1064m)

4 cm
45 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm clear thunderstorm cloud
Mid station 742 m
3100m 3250m 3350m 3150m 2950m

(620m — 1957m)

snow report 14 days ago

opens in 191 days 2.0 cm
14 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 1288 m
2900m 3200m 3100m 3150m 3000m

(560m — 690m)

snow report 15 days ago

opens in 199 days 1.0 cm
57 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm rain showers thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 625 m
2900m 3200m 3200m 3200m 3050m

(1200m — 2701m)

snow report 14 days ago

2.0 cm
14 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm thunderstorm mod rain mod rain
Mid station 1950 m
2750m 3250m 3100m 2950m 3100m

(1000m — 2301m)

snow report 14 days ago

4 cm
15 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm light rain
Mid station 1650 m
3000m 3200m 3200m 3200m 2950m

(669m — 2009m)

snow report today

6 cm
36 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm light rain
Mid station 1339 m
3050m 3200m 3250m 3150m 2950m

(1410m — 2525m)

snow report 14 days ago

opens in 191 days 5 cm
15 days ago
light rain thunderstorm mod rain mod rain mod rain
Mid station 1968 m
2800m 3200m 3200m 3150m 3050m

(850m — 2060m)

snow report today

2.0 cm
15 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm light rain
Mid station 1455 m
3050m 3200m 3250m 3150m 2950m

(800m — 2000m)

snow report 10 days ago

opens in 191 days 2.0 cm
14 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm mod rain mod rain
Mid station 1400 m
2800m 3250m 3150m 3050m 3100m

(1367m — 2168m)

snow report 13 days ago

4 cm
14 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm mod rain light rain thunderstorm
Mid station 1768 m
2700m 3150m 3150m 3000m 3100m

(990m — 2100m)

snow report today

2.0 cm
14 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm thunderstorm light rain light rain
Mid station 1545 m
2750m 3200m 3100m 3000m 3150m

(681m — 1551m)

Dreilaendereck webcam
4 cm
42 days ago
rain showers thunderstorm mod rain light rain thunderstorm
Mid station 1116 m
2750m 3150m 3150m 3050m 3050m

(800m — 1600m)

snow report 14 days ago

opens in 199 days 2.0 cm
14 days ago
thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm thunderstorm heavy rain
Mid station 1200 m
2900m 3300m 3100m 3050m 3000m