CROSSRISK – PUBLIC WARNINGS AND THE REDUCTION OF RISK RELATED TO PRECIPITATION AND SNOW COVER IN THE CROSS-BORDER AREA OF SLOVENIA AND AUSTRIA

Abstract

There are many areas in northern Slovenia and southern Austria where heavy rain, snow and avalanches often cause damage and endanger people’s lives. This affects not only the local population, but also visitors who are there on official duty or enjoying leisure activities in the natural environment. No uniform weather, hydrological, avalanche and climate information has been made available for this area so far. To improve, as well as harmonize, cross-border warnings and forecasts, seven project partners from Slovenia and Austria came together within the framework of the CROSSRISK project, under the subheading “Public warnings – reducing rain and snowfall related risks”. The CROSSRISK project made possible the development of new standardized systems for weather, snow and hydrological forecasts, and warnings of natural hazards such as floods, avalanches and snow loads. Some of the main achievements of the project are improved and innovative forecasting models and cross-border homogeneity of warnings of rain and snowfall related natural hazards. Within the project we set up snow forecasting models (snow depth, snow load and snowmaking potential) and improved hydrological forecasts, as well as flood warnings in the Mura river basin. We upgraded measurement systems and studied the impact of climate change on natural hazards related to precipitation and snow cover. We educated experts and target groups of the general public on the risks and opportunities related to rain and snow, thus promoting cross-border cooperation.