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ZAMG a Research Institute of the
Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
© Zentralanstalt für
Meteorologie und Geodynamik
1190 Vienna, Hohe Warte 38
Phone: +43 1 36 0 26
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Weather / Weatherwarnings / Legend

Legend

General Information General Information about the ZAMG Warning System

 

Published warnings for the parameters wind, rain and snow are based on statistical recurrence intervals of each meteorological incident. Colors of the published warning colors are based on frequency of the event being warned against, corresponding to long-term averages in each respective region. A general rule applies that the more seldom an event occurs, the more drastic are the effects and the more critical the weather scenario.

As regards warning parameters thunderstorm, black ice, heat stress and cold stress warning colors indicate the intensity of the incident and consequently, potential damages which may be caused by the incident.

In assigning judgments indicated by various warning colors, not only statistical recurrence intervals are taken into consideration, also factors which amplify the effects - and thereby also amplify potential damage - of the anticipated weather scenario, or which diminish it, are included in the considerations. Thus, storm-strength wind in deciduous trees can cause greater damage than in coniferous trees; or a heavy cloudburst can cause far greater impact following a period of heavy rainfall than following a dry spell.

Special Warnings An additional supplement to the weather warnings has been published by ZAMG: "Supplementary Warnings" contain descriptions of extraordinary weather scenarios which are not covered by the customary warnings.
 

The weather warnings published by ZAMG apply to permanently settled residential zones. Regions beyond such permanent settlements, for example the high alpine regions of Austria, are not covered by the warnings.

To depict a given warning scenario, the following warning colors are used:

Colour Meaning  
green Keine aktive Wetterwarnung No weather scenario which merits a warning is currently anticipated.
yellow Caution! Caution in the current weather scenario is urged, but only isolated weather-connected endangerments and/or damages are anticipated.
orange Attention!! Attention! The current weather scenario can lead to endangerments, disturbances in everyday life and damages. Pay close heed to the ongoing weather forecasts.
red Danger!!! Danger! It is expected that the current weather scenario will lead to extensive endangerments, disturbances of everyday life and/or to considerable damages. Pay close heed to the ongoing weather forecasts and comply with the instructions of the Civil Defense.

Wind Wind/Storm

 

Wind warnings published by ZAMG refer to the maximum wind speeds measured in km/hr which are anticipated in the indicated time window.

Colour Meaning  
green Keine aktive Wetterwarnung No wind speeds which merit a warning are currently anticipated. Local events, e.g. arising foehn winds or thunderstorm gusts, may occur.
yellow Caution! Caution! Wind speeds exceeding 70 km/hr are anticipated. The major peril stems from falling branches and loosed objects.
orange Attention!! Attention! Anticipated wind speeds can lead to damages, including breaking branches and loose, flying debris such as roof tiles. Disturbances in infrastructure, e.g. traffic, utilities, are possible.
red Danger!!! Anticipated wind speeds will lead to damages, including from uprooted trees, large loosed, flying objects such as roof tiles, billboards and construction scaffolding. Disturbances in infrastructure, e.g. traffic, utilities, are expected. Pay close heed to the ongoing weather forecasts and comply with the instructions of the Civil Defense.

Rain Rain

 

Rain warnings published by ZAMG refer to the anticipated amounts of wide-area rainfall measured in mm inside the indicated time window. Heavy rainfall in the course of thunderstorms is generally covered by thunderstorm warnings.

Colour Meaning  
green Keine aktive Wetterwarnung No amounts of rainfall which merit a warning are currently anticipated. Limited-area events such as local showers may occur.
yellow Caution! Caution! The forecast amounts of rainfall may lead to isolated endangerments such as limited flooding.
orange Attention!! Attention! The anticipated amounts of rainfall may lead to endangerments and damages caused by mudslides, washouts and spillage inundations, as well as flooded cellars. Traffic disturbances are possible.
red Danger!!! Danger! The anticipated amounts of rainfall are expected to lead to endangerments and damages caused by mudslides, spillage inundations and flooding, as well as water ingress in homes. Disturbances in the infrastructure, e.g. traffic, utilities and local supplies, are expected. Pay close heed to the ongoing weather forecasts and comply with the instructions of the Civil Defense.

Snow Snow

 

Snow warnings published by ZAMG refer to the anticipated wide-area amounts of fresh fallen snow measured in cm inside the indicated time window.

Colour Meaning  
green Keine aktive Wetterwarnung No amounts of snowfall which merit a warning are currently anticipated. Limited-area events such as local snow showers may occur.
yellow Caution! Caution! The forecast amounts of fresh fallen snow may lead to isolated disturbances, particularly in traffic.
orange Attention!! Attention! The forecast amounts of fresh fallen snow may lead to endangerments and disturbances, particularly in traffic. Damages from snow breakage and debris, as well as impaired local supplies, are possible.
red Danger!!! Danger! The anticipated amounts of fresh fallen snow are expected to lead to endangerments and disturbances, particularly in traffic, e.g. road closures, interrupted air and railway traffic. Damages from snow breakage, debris and avalanches are likely. Interruptions in utilities are expected. Pay close heed to the ongoing weather forecasts and comply with the instructions of the Civil Defense.

Black ice Black ice

 

Black ice warnings published by ZAMG refer exclusively to slippery-smooth, icy surfaces caused by freezing rain or drizzle. Glazed surfaces from watery spaces freezing over are covered only in exceptional cases.

Colour Meaning  
green Keine aktive Wetterwarnung No black ice which merits a warning is currently anticipated. Limited-area black ice in exposed places cannot be ruled out.
yellow Caution! Caution! Black ice may lead to endangerments and disturbances from region to region, particularly in road traffic and on walking and biking paths.
orange Attention!! Attention! Black ice over widespread areas may lead to endangerments and disturbances, particularly in road traffic and on walking and biking paths. Iced-up power lines and trees may lead to disturbances in the infrastructure.
red Danger!!! Danger! Black ice over widespread areas is expected to lead to endangerments and disturbances on traffic routes. Iced-up power lines and trees may cause extensive disturbances in infrastructure, e.g. utilities and local supplies. Pay close heed to the ongoing weather forecasts and comply with the instructions of the Civil Defense.

Thunderstorm Thunderstorm

 

Thunderstorm warnings published by ZAMG refer to strokes of lightning as well as to ancillary factors such as storm winds, heavy rainfall and hailstorms. An additional warning for storm follows just in case of extremely strong storm gusts.

Colour Meaning  
green Keine aktive Wetterwarnung The likelihood of thunderstorms is currently very low. Isolated thunderstorms which arise swiftly cannot be ruled out.
yellow Caution! Caution! Heightened likelihood of thunderstorms. From region to region, heavy rainfall and storm-strength winds can be expected. The major danger stems from strokes of lightning, falling tree branches and loosed flying objects. From place to place, inundations are possible.
orange Attention!! Attention, thunderstorms are likely! Intensive rainfall, storm-strength gusts and local hailstorms can be expected. Damages caused by strokes of lightning, breaking tree branches and loosed objects such as roof tiles are expected. Mudslides, washouts and spillage inundations, as well as disturbances in the infrastructure, e.g. traffic, utilities, are possible.
red Danger!!! Danger! The risk of severe thunderstorms is high! Intensive rainfall, storm-strength gusts and hailstorms are likely. Damages caused by strokes of lightning, breaking tree branches and loosed objects such as roof tiles are very likely. Mudslides, washouts and spillage inundations, as well as disturbances in the infrastructure, e.g. traffic, utilities, are expected.
Current Thunderstorms Overlaying lightening symbols mark current thunderstorms or thunderstorms that need to be expected within the next hours.
Current Thunderstorms with Hail Overlaying hail symbols mark current thunderstorms with hail or thunderstorms with hail that need to be expected within the next hours.
For reasons of clarity current thunder- and hailstorms are marked by only one symbol per affected district on the general map of Austria and the federal states.

Heat stress Heat stress

 

An extended period of midsummery temperatures combined with high humidity leads to heightened heat stress in the human organism. In a heat wave, the body perspires more. The perspiration evaporates on the surface of the skin, which cools the skin and helps to maintain a constant body temperature in spite of external heat. In extreme circumstances such as hot and humid weather, the body’s cooling system can become overloaded, resulting in endangered health. Unsuitable clothing, failure to drink enough as well as intensity and duration of physically taxing activities reinforce body stress still further. Elderly, chronically ill people and children are affected particularly.

Colour Meaning  
green Keine aktive Wetterwarnung No heat stress is currently anticipated.
yellow Caution! Enhanced heat stress can be expected.
orange Attention!! Intense heat stress can be expected.
red Danger!!! Extreme heat stress can be expected.

Cold stress Cold stress

 

Unusually low temperatures put the human organism under extraordinary stress. Blood vessels constrict, heart frequency accelerates, blood pressure increases. Low temperatures combined with wind reinforces cold stress still further, the danger of frostbite swiftly rises.

Colour Meaning  
green Keine aktive Wetterwarnung No cold stress is currently anticipated.
yellow Caution! Enhanced cold stress can be expected.
orange Attention!! Intense cold stress can be expected.
red Danger!!! Extreme cold stress can be expected.