Some resorts in Austria have reported up to 40cm of snow falling in the past 24 hours in the first significant snowfall reported in the country in over a month.
The snowfall does not however appear to be widespread but to be concentrated in just part of the country around Salzburgerland and in Upper Austria.
Reports in so far include 30cm/ a foot in the last 24 hours claimed by Filzmoos and Obertauern and 40cm at loser. There was also 20cm reported at Flachau.
World Cup racing from Semmering in Lower Austria (pictured above) over the past 24 hours also showed women racing in near blizzard conditions.
Much of Austria remains cold and dry according to reports. St Anton for example reports temperatures reaching double digits below. It has a 15-50cm base and 115km of its 300km or so of runs open. It last received snow – about 5cm/2 inches – on Christmas Day.
Most forecasters expect conditions to become unsettled with more snow in Austria next week although they disagree as to whether a few inches or a few feet of snow may fall then.