What the Austrian ski resort flash flood means for your winter holiday
A deluge dumped 60,000 cubic metres of mud on St Anton, but locals insist the clean-up will be swift
Extreme weather wreaked havoc in ski resorts last winter and this summer has been no different – storms have devastated settlements in Austria and Switzerland, while the hottest July on record has triggered wildfires in Canada and left Alpine glaciers threadbare, all raising doubts over the future of ski holidays.
This week has been particularly unsettling.
Alpine communities and tourists have been left shocked after a rainstorm caused a flash flood in the Austrian ski resort of St Anton am Arlberg after two rivers burst their banks on August 16.
The storm had subsided by 10pm. But the damage was done: buildings destroyed, homes flooded and cars swept away. Dramatic images swirled globally on social media showing the extent of the chaos.
“Heavy storms have done great damage in many parts of Austria,” confirmed Karl Nehammer, the Austrian chancellor, on Twitter/X, thanking the emergency service crews after parts of Vienna were also left submerged.
St Anton – one of the most popular ski resorts in Europe among British skiers – is putting on a brave face. “Our big miracle is that nobody was hurt. That is the most important thing.
There is nothing we cannot repair,” said Martin Ebster, chief executive of St Anton’s tourist board. He estimated that 60,000 cubic metres of debris and mud, which would fill 1,000 swimming pools, had landed in the resort.
The fire brigade, mountain rescue, Red Cross and community have all been working round-the-clock on the clean-up operation in Austria
Ebster was quick to reassure the region’s 10,000 daily summer visitors. “It is safe to visit. All lifts are open again. No hotels closed. Nobody evacuated. People can hike, bike, climb, as usual.
Two of the hiking paths are closed.
The rest of the whole area is now cleared: 99.9 per cent of the area is not affected. Things are open. It’s business as usual.
We [the fire brigade, mountain rescue, Red Cross and the community] have all been working intensely round-the-clock on the clean-up operation. We’re proud of the work done. It should all be cleared within three weeks.”
But what does all this mean for the next winter ski season in the Arlberg ski area – the largest in Austria? “Zero effect. We’re looking forward to a great winter season.
The ski slopes aren’t affected. The cable car opens December 4. The cable companies may have to repair some equipment but it will be perfect for the winter. We’re not worried,” said Ebster.
The clear up effort has been “phenomenal”, said British local Carly Bedford, owner of property provider St. Anton 365. “You wouldn’t have believed the carnage if you hadn’t seen it… We’re a small ski town. It’s brought the community and expats together.”
The mood for next winter? “Rosy!” she said.
The fire brigade, mountain rescue, Red Cross and community (including Carly Bedford, pictured here) have all been working round-the-clock on the clean-up operation in Austria
The fire brigade, mountain rescue, Red Cross and locals (including British expat Carly Bedford, pictured here) have all been working round-the-clock on the clean-up operation Credit: Carly Bedford
Last week’s incident in St Anton wasn’t an isolated occurrence. Neighbouring Switzerland has also been hit by storms. On August 12 flash floods around the Lauterbrunnen Valley cut off the ski resort of Grindelwald, affecting 8,000 tourists.
And on June 21, floods cut off Zermatt, leaving one dead.
The Swiss government’s weather service reported 124mm of rain fell in one hour. The rescue operation was equally swift with the resort reporting that the floods would not affect the winter season.
Locals are working hard to restore St Anton in time for the winter ski season
St Anton is normally a popular destination for British ski tourists Credit: TVB-St-Anton-am-Arlberg_Patrick-Baetz
The rise in freak weather patterns in the mountains has led many to question whether the future of ski holidays is becoming more unpredictable.
“Yes, weather patterns are becoming more volatile,” said Fraser Wilkin of the snow forecasting website Weather to Ski. “It’s extremely difficult to forecast the snow in the Alps this winter.
It’s so unpredictable.”
Elsewhere, wildfire infernos swept through Marmot Basin and Jasper ski resort in Canada’s Alberta as a 330ft-high “monster” wildfire burnt 50 per cent of the town; 25,000 people were evacuated last month. It remains shut for the remainder of the summer. Will it be open for next winter? “The road ahead is uncertain,” said Jasper mayor Richard Ireland.
According to AdaptAlp, a project of the six Alpine countries on natural hazards, ski resorts “must adapt to expect, manage and generate risk-management solutions for interrelated natural hazards, floods, droughts, landslides”.
But it’s not all bad news. “Is it all doom and gloom? Not at all,” said James Gambrill, director of the Ski Club of Great Britain. “Bookings are off-the-charts – up 40 per cent up on last season.”
Simon Meeke, director of luxury ski company Powder Byrne reports similar. “We have no concerns over weather, except for snow cover and [resort] height. Yes, the adverse weather is definitely playing more on clients’ minds – [they’re] choosing higher resorts. But we’re seeing a growth in winter enquiries.”
