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Snow certainty

Top in snow heights.

Snow certainty
in Obertauern.

The snow wonder of Obertauern.

The snow wonder of Obertauern.

The famous snow certainty in Obertauern from November to May is not only a claim but a scientifically proven fact.

Every year from November onwards the lift operators look up to the sky to see whether and when the snow god will give his blessing over them. And every year if the snow starts to fall too late, the media begin to question whether winter sport even has a future. Because, without the “white gold” of the winter, skiing would be very difficult indeed.


Experience the greatest snow heights in Austria.

Obertauern - the highest situated winter sport destination

The good news is that Obertauern is and remains sure of snow! Although the question of snow certainty may be relevant for many skiing regions in the alpine area in the mid-term, it isn’t even a consideration for Obertauern. The highest situated winter sport destination of the Salzburger Land has always promoted itself with its proverbial snow certainty yet now a study conducted by ski tourism researcher Günther Aigner proves that Obertauern is, indeed, the winter sport destination with the greatest certainty of snow in Austria! At 1,740 metres, Obertauern is the highest situated winter sport destination in the Salzburger Land and has always been famous as one of the resorts with the most snow. Yet now it has an official and scientifically proven seal! According to a study by the famous ski tourism researcher Günther Aigner, Obertauern is the winter sport destination with the greatest certainty of snow in Austria.

The study is based largely on measurements of snow volume of the past one hundred years of the Austrian Hydrographic State Services. Obertauern leads the ranking as the most snow-sure town with an average maximum snow height of 264 cm. And it is interesting to note that there is no decline when looking at the snow height of the past 108 years - so, excellent news for future snow enjoyment!

A look at the winter sport destinations.

Austria’s snow greats in comparison.

In Austria, the Hydrographic State Services and their predecessor institutions have been recording the snow volume of numerous places for more than one hundred years which allows a comparison to be made over a long period of many winter sport destinations. The long time period is also necessary as this allows any fluctuations in snow volume to be evened out statistically and provides a more accurate average sum. This, in turn, indicates how much snow really falls in a particular place. In his study, Günther Aigner incorporated the seven Austrian federal states in which there are winter sports. From these federal states he chose the places which were, according to the figures, most sure of snow, also seven, to compare these with one another. The study incorporated the officially recorded figures of snow heights of the past 30 years, from winter 1985/86 to winter 2014/15.


Top place!

Obertauern is in the lead by far.

From a scientific viewpoint there are two parameters with which the frequent occurrence of large amounts of snow can be objectively established. These are the annual new snow figures on the one hand and the annual maximum snow heights on the other. As the new snow figures of the past two decades have not been reliably recorded in all places, Aigner analysed the annual maximum snow heights. With 264 centimetres as the average maximum snow height, Obertauern leads the ranking of Austrian resorts with the most snow by far. The second place, located on the Arlberg, had 197 centimetres which is still a good 25% below Obertauern’s figure.

Snow heights statistically unchanged.

Obertauern’s snow is not getting less.

Some of the figures revealed in the study conducted by ski tourism researcher Günther Aigner on snow levels in Obertauern are also rather interesting. The greatest ever measured snow height in Obertauern, 470 centimetres, occurred in winter 1966/67. The lowest, 66 centimetres, fell in 1938/39. The scientific comparison also leads to the final conclusion that snow heights in Obertauern during the past 108 years have remained statistically unchanged. The figures do not therefore give any indication that there is a trend towards decreasing snow levels in Obertauern. And this shows that the snow certainty in Obertauern is not merely a claim used in advertising but also a scientifically proven fact.

Some of the figures revealed in the study conducted by ski tourism researcher Günther Aigner on snow levels in Obertauern are also rather interesting. The greatest ever measured snow height in Obertauern, 470 centimetres, occurred in winter 1966/67. The lowest, 66 centimetres, fell in 1938/39. The scientific comparison also leads to the final conclusion that snow heights in Obertauern during the past 108 years have remained statistically unchanged. The figures do not therefore give any indication that there is a trend towards decreasing snow levels in Obertauern. And this shows that the snow certainty in Obertauern is not merely a claim used in advertising but also a scientifically proven fact.

Unforgettable winter holidays.

Be there!

Be there and enjoy unforgettable winter holidays in Obertauern, in the Apartment Hotel Glöcknerin.

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