Events

High Pressure Area: TV Weathermen in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl

What is on the program of 35 female and male TV weather presenters from several European countries, who meet at the rear end of the Ötztal? Last Friday, I tried to find out more on the spot in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, heading for the ski area already at the crack of dawn. And I can tell you something in advance: I am going to reveal all secrets behind the mysterious appearance of such a great quantity of weather presenters! What‘s most important: The TV meteorologists answered the question of all questions – how will the coming winter season be, can we look forward to a white Christmas?

5:00 am in the morning. Hohe Mut Bahn Base Station.

It’s really chilly with temperatures under zero. But the awakening sky promises a fabulous day. That’s also what the weatherman said in TV yesterday.

I am going to meet Rudi who is responsible for the pasturelands at Hohe Mut. He takes me in his snow-grooming machine to his working place at an altitude of 2670 meters. Once on top, the area is already crowded. Countless cameramen pan their recording equipment, highly focused boom operators listen to their headphones. Surrounded by huge floodlights and lamps, a camera crane and tons of cables.

© pro media kommunikation gmbh/APA-Fotoservice/Hetfleisch

A young female presenter is in the center of attention, she is talking about … the weather. What a surprise, it’s going to be a bright and sunny day!

But what happens here in the mountains on this special Friday at around six o’clock in the morning. Any idea? No? I can’t keep you on tenterhooks any more:

The rear Ötztal Valley hosts the International Weather Summit, a yearly held meeting of Europe’s professional TV weather presenters. Some 35 of the most famous weathermen and weather-elves from eight different countries – among them Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and Poland – get together in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl from 23 to 25 November. Besides talking, discussing and networking, live weather shows are held right amidst the ski area!

Thanks to 55 TV weather productions – comprising also about 40 live broadcasts – dreamlike pictures from the heart of Tirol were sent straight to millions of households all over Europe.

Although the Ötztal has hosted this unique event already three times, the Weather Summit took place in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl – between 1800 and 3010 meters altitude – for the very first time. On the wish list: three fabulous days with bright sunshine against the scenic Alpine backdrop! And what’s best, the wish came true with excellent weather conditions so important for such an event in the mountain area. Early snowfalls in autumn and a stable area of high pressure added to a real winter wonderland in the shooting locations spread all over the magnificent ski area of Obergurgl-Hochgurgl: Hohe Mut Alm, quattro Festkogel and Top Mountain Crosspoint.

The unrivaled Top Mountain Star was a very spectacular shooting location: TV meteorologists tried abseiling in front of a live camera, guided by the local Mountain Rescue Team. This was probably their most exciting and dizzy-making weather show ever!

One of the event’s undisputed attractions is the popular Weather Summit Award. The best weather TV show is chosen by an expert jury. The highly coveted 2017 Weather Summit Award went to Jarek Kret (NOWA TV / Poland, in the center) followed by Björn Alexander (ntv / Germany, on the left) and Austria’s ORF weatherman Marcus Wadsak.

And what about the weather forecast for the coming winter season? As promised: the TV weather experts answered my questions about a white Christmas. Simply listen to their forecasts (in German)!

(Cover image: © pro media kommunikation gmbh/APA-Fotoservice/Hetfleisch)

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