Austria and neighboring regions are grappling with severe winter weather, characterized by heavy snowfall and high avalanche risk, leading to multiple fatalities and widespread disruptions. As of February 22, 2026, the highest avalanche warning level (5) is in effect for parts of Tyrol, South Tyrol, and Trentino, with lower but still significant warnings in other Alpine areas. The extreme conditions have resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals, including a 21-year-old Slovakian buried by an avalanche in Styria and a 41-year-old skier in Serfaus, Tyrol. A tour bus carrying twelve passengers was swept away by a snow mass in the Austrian Alps but miraculously, no one was injured. The severe weather has also caused extensive power outages, with tens of thousands of households in Slovenia and Austria affected, and significant disruptions to transportation, including temporary airport closures and blocked highways.