February 2025 was exceptionally dry in Austria. According to an analysis by Geosphere Austria, there was 66% less precipitation than in an average February. “Such a dry February statistically occurs every five to seven years,” said climatologist Alexander Orlik on Monday. Over the past 30 years, it has only been drier three times, in 1998, 2003, and most recently in 2011.

Very Little Fresh Snow

There was also significantly less fresh snow. Below 1,000 meters above sea level, Austria-wide, there was 87% less fresh snow than in an average February. In regions between 1,000 and 1,500 meters, the deficit was 75%, and above 1,500 meters, it was 60%.

In Kufstein, Tyrol, there was almost no fresh snow in February. In an average February from 1991 to 2020, there was typically 45 centimeters. Vienna (average 14 cm), Kremsmünster in Upper Austria (average 23 cm), Reichenau/Rax in Lower Austria (average 31 cm), and Eisenstadt in Burgenland (average 10 cm) also saw no fresh snow in February. In Deutschlandsberg, Styria, 7 centimeters fell, compared to an average of 24 cm.

Temperatures and Sunshine Hours Above Average

In the lowlands, temperatures were 1.0°C higher than the average for the climate period from 1991 to 2020. On the mountains, temperatures were 2.2°C milder than the average. “In the lowlands of Austria, this places February 2025 in 45th place in the ranking of the warmest Februarys in 258 years of measurement history, and on the mountains, it ranks 23rd in the 174-year mountain measurement history,” said Geosphere Austria in their release. The number of sunshine hours was also above the long-term average.

The weather conditions caused vegetation to develop earlier than usual. For example, snowdrop blooming began on February 16, 2025, which was three days earlier than the long-term average (1991-2020). Hazel blooming began on February 15, 2025, four days earlier than the long-term average.

Within the scientific community, there is a consensus that human-caused climate change, driven by the emission of harmful greenhouse gases, is causing temperatures to rise more quickly.