Blog
Categories
© Tirol Werbung / Rodler Ilvy
Food & Drink
© Bert Heinzelmeier
People
© Tirol Werbung / Aichner Bernhard
Arts & Culture
© Tirol Werbung / Moore Casey
Recommendations
© Tirol Werbung / Herbig Hans
Family
© Tirol Werbung / Schwarz Jens
Bits & Pieces
© Tirol Werbung / Neusser Peter
Sports
Jagdhausalmen Alpine Pastures, Defereggen, East Tirol, Austria, Europe
Specials

Where is Tirol’s Snowiest Place of the Past 30 Years?

Updated on 21.12.2015 in Bits & Pieces

2013-2014 saw the severest winter of the century so far: Obertilliach, East Tirol.2013-2014 saw the severest winter of the century so far: Obertilliach, East Tirol.

The snow falls softly… And here’s my ‚Who Wants to be a Millionaire‘ question for you: Where is Tirol’s snowiest place of the past 30 years?

Four possible answers are given:

A) Hochfilzen in Pillerseetal Valley
B) Hinterhornbach in Lechtal Valley
C) Leutasch near Seefeld
D) Obertilliach in East Tirol.

Well, did you guess Tirol’s snowiest place correctly or did you have to use the „Phone-a-Friend“ lifeline? Read on for the solutions!

Snowshoeing in Hochfilzen, Pillerseetal Valley. (Photo: Tirol Werbung)Snowshoeing in Hochfilzen, Pillerseetal Valley. (Photo: Tirol Werbung)

A) Hochfilzen in Pillerseetal Valley clobbers the competition as Tirol’s snowiest place: When it comes to seasonal averages (1983/84 – 2012/2013), Hochfilzen has the most snowfall in Tirol — 671 cm of new snow per year. At an altitude of 960 meters, Hochfilzen is the snowiest but also the lowest of the four places listed above. Average maximum snow depth during the 30-year record was an incredible 134 cm. This makes it the snowiest inhabited place around Tirol. On average, Hochfilzen reaches 143 days with snow on the ground each winter. Quick question: Is there a place in Tirol where snow sticks around longer? Continue reading to find out!

A snowed-in log cabin in Lechtal Valley. (Photo: TVB Lechtal, Irene Ascher)A snowed-in log cabin in Lechtal Valley. (Photo: TVB Lechtal, Irene Ascher)

B: Hinterhornbach in Lechtal Valley
Even though this village at an altitude of 1,101 meters has a population of only 90 people, it manages to set the record of being the snowiest place in Lechtal Valley. Hinterhornbach receives a 30-year average 507 cm of new snow per year (1983/84 – 2012/2013). Over the winter, the average maximum snow depth reaches 106 cm and there is snow on the ground for 141 days.

Cross country skiing near Seefeld. (Photo: Tirol Werbung, Josef Mallaun)Cross country skiing near Seefeld. (Photo: Tirol Werbung, Josef Mallaun)

C: Leutasch near Seefeld
Leutasch averages 515 cm of new snow each winter (1983/84 – 2012/2013), and the average maximum snow depth reaches 107 cm. Lying at an altitude of 1,135 meters, one „number-one“ edges out the competition by a nose: Snow sticks around in Leutasch near Seefeld for an average 151 days per winter. That’s eight more than the days with snow on the ground in Hochfilzen!

2013-2014 saw the severest winter of the century so far: Obertilliach, East Tirol.2013-2014 saw the severest winter of the century so far: Obertilliach, East Tirol.

D: Obertilliach in East Tirol
And what about possible answer D? Nestled at an elevation of 1,400 meters, the village of Obertilliach is the lofty perch on this list. An average of 388 cm of new snow is par for the course each winter (1983-2013) and the average maximum snow depth during the 30-year record was 93 cm. On average, there’s 146 days a year when snow is on the ground.

How did we come up with this list of Tirol’s snowiest places?
Ski tourism researcher Günther Aigner examined 30-year average annual snowfall data from Tirol’s climatic data center to come up with a study on that topic in fall 2014. Read the full report here: www.zukunft-skisport.at/das-pillerseetal-die-schneereichste-region-tirols (German 0nly).

When he is not working, Michael Gams is out exploring this beautiful country, hiking, mountain biking, freeriding and ski touring to the most beautiful spots in Tirol.

Last article from Michael
Skiing above the city at Patscherkofel, © Tirol Werbung / Stefan Voitl
Updated on 31.10.2022 in Sports
How to Be a Better Skier: Nine Ways to Improve Your Skiing
10 min reading time
Schloss Tratzberg (c) W9 Studios, Tirol Werbung
Updated on 17.05.2022 in Arts & Culture
Discover the Myths and Legends of Tratzberg Castle
3 min reading time
Skigebiet Alpbach in Tirol
Updated on 13.12.2021 in Recommendations
A Day In The Snow: Skiing in Alpbach
10 min reading time
Beckna Harakiri schmal
Updated on 01.09.2021 in Recommendations
A Day In The Snow: Snowboarding in Mayrhofen
8 min reading time
1_Skifahren in Ischgl_Pardatschgrat
Updated on 02.03.2021 in Recommendations
A Day In The Snow: Skiing Ischgl
5 min reading time
The record breaking 406 meter long suspension footbridge connects remarkable Ehrenberg Castle Ensemble with the remains of the 17th-century Roman Fortress Claudia in the market town of Reutte at a dizzying height of 110 meters. (Photography: Naturparkregion Reutte)
Updated on 29.10.2020 in Recommendations
21 Reasons Why You Should Never Visit Tirol
2 min reading time
Snowshoeing in Hochfilzen, Pillerseetal Valley. (Photo: Tirol Werbung)
Updated on 10.12.2018 in Recommendations
Top Ten Places for a White Christmas in Tirol
4 min reading time
Portrait Vreni Meijerink (c) Bert Heinzlmeier
Updated on 31.07.2018 in People
One of 757 thousand: How Vreni from Holland came to Tirol
6 min reading time
Bernhard Neumann_Olperer_Gipfelgrat
Updated on 09.05.2018 in People
Summit Stories: Bernhard Neumann and Olperer Mountain
9 min reading time
Updated on 04.12.2017 in Family
Winter holiday through a photographer’s lens
1 min reading time
Portrait_Sara_(c) Carlos Blanchard_S34B5610
Updated on 03.07.2017 in People
One Out of 757 Thousand: How Sara came to Tirol from Sweden
9 min reading time
Bergfuehrer_Matthias Wurzer_Gipfel Großglockner (c) Tirol Werbung_Jens Schwarz
Updated on 28.06.2017 in People
Summit Stories: Matthias Wurzer and Großglockner Mountain
9 min reading time
Left behind the snowcapped spire is our destination: The Summit of Großvenediger.
Updated on 27.06.2017 in People
Summit Stories: Sigi Hatzer and Großvenediger Mountain
9 min reading time
Left behind the snowcapped spire is our destination: The Summit of Großvenediger.
Updated on 27.06.2017 in People
New Blog Series: Mountain Guide Summit Stories
5 min reading time
Ort:
Updated on 20.03.2017 in Family
The ABC’s of Skiing With Kids
6 min reading time
DSC_0055
Updated on 01.06.2016 in Sports
What to Bring: The Ultimate Multi-Day Hiking Packing List
3 min reading time
All articles from Michael
No comments available
Write comment

Keep reading

Go up

Is your inbox in need of a holiday?

Then subscribe to our weekly newsletter full of exclusive holiday tips from Tirol!