Hail Storm Alert for Austria: First Powerful Thunderstorms with Severe Gusts Expected
Well, the sky over Styria has really closed in, hasn't it? One minute it was beautifully warm, almost summery – and now this: Dark clouds, first flashes on the horizon, and then it starts hailing. If you were out and about, you probably ducked under the nearest awning pretty quickly. The first fierce heat thunderstorms are rolling across Austria, and the forecasts aren't looking too clever.
It's really copped it in the Mürztal region especially. The locals know the drill: just wait until the shower passes. But when the hailstones get as big as marbles, you're definitely keeping an eye out the window to check if the car's still in one piece. A mate of mine only just got his convertible out of winter storage – reckon that's heading straight back into the garage now. The farmers are dreading it every time the sky looks like this. The fruit trees have only just flowered, and if heavy hail comes down, the crop is wiped out. It's just rotten luck.
The meteorologists are now sounding the alarm for the rest of the day and tonight: it's set to get pretty wild. Aside from Styria, parts of Lower Austria and Burgenland are also in the firing line. The latest models show the storm cells just keep building. Tell you what: if anyone's still planning a hike, you'd better turn back. Mountain peaks are often the perfect lightning rod. And even down in the valley, you can get caught out if you take shelter under a tree – just don't do it! Better to duck into a café for a bit and wait for the worst to pass.
Something I always find fascinating: our old farming proverbs and the shorthand they used in weather diaries back in the day. You'd see things like:
- Hgl. for Hail
- Gew. for Thunderstorm
- Str. for Storm
- Wttl. for Heat lightning
- tr. for overcast and h. for clear
- Rg. for Rain, Sch. for Snow
- Nrg. for Drizzle, N. for Fog
- Frn. for Freezing fog and HN. for High fog/stratus
Sounds complicated, but our grandfathers could read these signs to tell exactly what kind of summer was coming. These days we've got the weather app on our phones for that – but it's not quite as cosy, is it?
It's also interesting how much the weather gets people talking. The other day I saw a bloke proudly wearing a "Tornado Hail Weather Storm Enthusiast" short-sleeve T-shirt. A real weather nerd – but kinda cool, too, that there are people who willingly get into all this chaos. Or those funny British weather sweatshirts plastered with symbols for rain, hail and storm. I mean, given the weather over there, you can understand it. Here in Austria, we could probably do with one ourselves. And then there's the hardcore version for meteorologists: the "What the hail!" sweatshirt. Some people have got a good sense of humour.
But jokes aside: if you love your car or have the BBQ out on the patio, you'd better be prepared. There's the ORSEM LNB weather protection cover, for instance, which protects not just from rain, but also from hail, snow and ice. Sounds like a bit of a hassle at first, but after a storm when your car's bodywork looks like a golf ball, you'll be kicking yourself. Just whip it over and you're done – the thing is UV-resistant and can take a beating. Same goes for plants and delicate cold frames: cover them up or bring them inside if you can be quick.
The next few hours are going to be eventful. The sky will keep clouding over, and fresh thunderstorms could roll in right through the night. So keep your wits about you, secure any loose items on the balcony and patio, and if there's lightning: get inside, and don't worry about unplugging the landline (that's a myth, but strikes can still hit the wiring). And remember: after the storm, the sun usually comes out again – and then the air is so beautifully clear you can see all the way to the Alps. That's the reward for sticking it out.
Look after yourselves and stay safe!