Hurray, It’s Snowing – Winter Has Returned to Austria

It’s that time again: the first significant snowfall has reached the mountains, and Austria is once more showing its true winter character. Within just a few days, the alpine landscape has transformed. Where late-autumn colors dominated only recently, clear white slopes now shape the scenery. Winter is no longer a forecast—it has arrived.

Recent snowfall has changed the picture in the Alps noticeably. Higher elevations are now covered in a consistent layer of snow, with ridges and early-season piste lines clearly visible. Many ski resorts are actively preparing for the start of the season, and some have already opened their first lifts. The shift toward winter is unmistakable and can be felt daily in the mountain regions.

While the valleys still linger in the transition between seasons, preparations in the high alpine areas have been underway for weeks. At the Kitzsteinhorn, which traditionally opens early, conditions are already stable. These early-season conditions provide a solid foundation for professional winter operations and have also enabled the Snowsports Academy to kick off its first instructor courses of the season.

The instructors of the Snowsports Academy are enjoying the early winter conditions at the Kitzsteinhorn.

In recent weeks, the Academy has completed the first ski and snowboard instructor training programs. Demand has been strong, and the groups have been more international than ever: participants from over 30 nations traveled to Austria to complete the renowned Austrian instructor certification. This diversity highlights the global reputation of Austria’s training system.

The fresh snow created ideal conditions from the very beginning. Participants trained on firm, wintery slopes, practiced technique in real snow, and immediately experienced what working as a ski or snowboard instructor truly means: being outdoors, moving with the mountain environment, and learning directly in natural conditions. The early onset of winter gave the entire season a dynamic and promising start.

Deeply snow-covered and wintry, the training center of the Snowsports Academy at the VAYA Hotel Zell am See presents itself.

With the recent snow, Austria has regained its characteristic winter silhouette—not everywhere, but clearly in the higher regions that can already hold the early winter cold. Conditions for the season’s start are improving day by day, and the atmosphere in the alpine areas is filled with anticipation.

Hurray, it’s snowing. Winter is back—and it feels good.