2013
Vas County extreme winter
Short Description
Detailed Description
In the first days of January 2013, the weather was mostly mild and rainy. By mid-month, cold air waves from the Mediterranean region swept across the area, while a large and persistent anticyclone developed in the north. Mediterranean cyclones reached the county on January 14, 17, and 18, bringing heavy snowfalls and snowdrifts. During the snowfall on January 14, the temperature remained negative, so a uniform 15-20 cm of snow fell across Vas County. However, cold air waves from the Mediterranean region reached the area again, leading to the formation of new cyclones. The first cyclone’s precipitation zone arrived from the southeast on the evening of January 16. Due to the direction of the flow, the Alps also had a blocking effect, resulting in heavy snowfalls overnight in Vas County and later in the morning and noon in Győr-Moson-Sopron County. By the evening of January 17, the cyclone had dropped 15-20 cm of fresh snow, and the snow thickness in the region reached 30-40 cm, with some areas measuring even more.
At this point, the approach of the cyclone had significantly slowed down. Just as the precipitation zone passed on January 17, the next Mediterranean cyclone arrived, bringing snow once again on January 18. However, the intensity of the precipitation was not as strong as the previous day, and typically 1-5 cm of fresh snow fell. The main danger this time was the strengthening wind, which caused strong snowdrifts across the region. This resulted in significant disruptions and delays in both road and rail traffic, and several roads had to be closed due to snowdrifts. During the day, many villages became inaccessible, mainly in the northern part of Vas County and the southwestern part of Győr-Moson-Sopron County. By January 19, the wind had weakened, and snowfall ceased, leading to gradual improvement in accessibility.
From February 21, a new cold spell began, and the weather became more precipitation-prone. On the evening of February 21, there was light snowfall, and by the night of February 23, intense snowfalls resulted in 17 cm of snow, bringing the snow layer on February 23 to 21 cm. During the day, however, the snow began to melt, and the evening’s new snowfall was replaced by rain overnight. On February 26, a significant amount of rain (24 mm) fell overnight, which, combined with the melting snow, caused inland flooding and river floods.
The professional fire brigades of the county worked with reinforced service, and all municipal fire brigades and ten volunteer fire associations participated in the operations.
The fire units rescued stranded passenger vehicles and trucks from the snow, arranged for the accommodation of people trapped on roads, and opened designated warming shelters. They also assisted in delivering food supplies to isolated villages.
During the most critical period, the road management authority cleaned the roads with 61 vehicles. At the height of the snow conditions, approximately 700 trucks were waiting at mandatory parking spots throughout the county.
The operations were coordinated by the Territorial Defense Committee’s Disaster Management Operational Staff, where delegates from the participating organizations in the rescue and services worked.
During the most critical period, 18 villages in the county were isolated due to snow: Vasszilvágy, Acsád, Nagygeresd, Gór, Pusztacsó, Chernelházadamonya, Nemescsó, Vassurány, Kőszegpaty, Nemesládony, Meszlen, Tormásliget, Répceszentgyörgy, Lócs, Iklanberény, Mesterháza, and Vát.
Through coordinated efforts between the police, disaster management, and patient transport teams, 58 scheduled dialysis patients were transported to Szombathely.
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