Onset of winter in Carinthia: Kassel hut owner surprised by 20 cm of snow!

Onset of winter in Carinthia: Kassel hut owner surprised by 20 cm of snow!

On July 13, 2025, the Hannoverhaus in Carinthia reported that an unexpected onset of winter in midsummer had changed the scenery. Niklas Meibert, the hut owner from Kassel, has taken over the popular destination for hikers over the last year and a half. With 20 centimeters of fresh snow at an impressive 2565 meters altitude, he experienced a surprise that followed an abrupt change in the weather. While the old snowfields had melted in June, the sudden snowfall took everyone by surprise.

The turbulent weather began with lots of rain in April and May, followed by sunny late summer days. But now the hut is facing challenges due to weather conditions due to stagnating operations. For example, a new employee was unable to take the cable car up, so operations had to be temporarily restricted. In addition, the stormy weather with heavy snowfall can make the already difficult hiking conditions even more difficult. While some guests found the ongoing snow exciting, others had to cancel their bookings at short notice.

Capricious weather in the Alpine region

However, the recent weather phenomena are in the context of a worrying trend: the amount of snow in the Alps has been decreasing since the 1980s. According to taz.de, snowfall has fallen by around a third in the last 100 years. The higher temperatures mean that precipitation occurs more frequently as rain, which means that snow depths fall drastically, especially below 2000 meters.

A comprehensive study in the “International Journal of Climatology” shows that there has been a significant decline in new snowfall since 1980. Combined with the temperature increase of around 1 degree Celsius in the Alps, it is clear that the snow season is becoming shorter and shorter.

Impact on the environment and winter sports

This trend has far-reaching consequences for winter sports regions. Researchers have found that the snow cover in the Alps is shorter by an average of 36 days, which has a dramatic impact on ski and hiking areas such as the Ankogel ski area. The analyzed data from hundreds of measuring stations show a decline in the total snow cover of 5.6 percent per decade. According to Research and Knowledge, such results are unprecedented in the last six centuries and also have a negative impact on the water reserves of rivers such as the Danube, Rhine and Rhone.

The snow not only acts as a water reservoir, but also protects the soil and glaciers from excessive evaporation. Studies continue to show that the decrease in snowfall could impact both agriculture and neighboring densely populated regions, making the need for adaptation strategies imperative.

As Niklas Meibert from Hannoverhaus shows, you have to deal with the whims of the weather in order to keep the hut open as a popular starting point for hikes over the summer months until September. Because the future is uncertain. Who knows when the Alps will turn into a white winter wonderland again? The emerging environmental challenges require quick and targeted solutions from those responsible.