Austria high mountain road closed due to heavy snowfall

Heavy snowfall has arrived in the Austrian Alps, leading to the complete closure of the Zillertal high mountain road in Tyrol. While restrictions were previously in place for certain sections, the recent accumulation of fresh snow necessitated a full closure of the route. Authorities have not yet announced when the road will reopen to traffic.

In higher elevations, particularly on peaks and glaciers between 2,000 and 3,000 meters, recent snowfall reached between 20 and 50 centimeters within a 48-to-72-hour period. The most significant accumulations were recorded in East Tyrol, northern Carinthia, southern Salzburg, and popular glacier areas such as Kitzsteinhorn, Hintertux, and the Stubai Glacier.

In mid-altitude zones between 1,000 and 1,500 meters, snow layers of 5 to 15 centimeters have formed. Lower valleys and settlements below 1,000 meters primarily experienced rain. Weather forecasts indicate that while rain and stormy winds are expected across the Alps on Sunday, conditions are predicted to clear with more sunshine early next week.