A cold front passing through Czech territory brought snowfall to mountain peaks Thursday morning. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), snow was reported on Sněžka, the country’s highest peak. Just days ago, during the past weekend, temperatures had soared above 30°C, breaking numerous records.
“We’re currently measuring -1.2°C on Sněžka with ongoing snowfall. Praděd mountain is at -0.1°C with snowfall occurring mainly during the night. Due to strong winds, the wind chill factor, especially on Sněžka, is significantly lower,” meteorologists reported.
The weather on Sněžka is influenced by the mountain’s distinctive triangular shape. Despite its relatively modest altitude, the peak experiences climate conditions similar to arctic regions or high mountains, often differing dramatically from weather patterns in the rest of the Krkonoše range.
While snow continues to fall on Sněžka throughout Thursday morning, it isn’t accumulating on the ground yet. Wind presents a greater challenge, reaching speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour, forcing the suspension of cable car service to the summit. “We’re currently operating only the first section to Růžová hora, but we expect conditions to improve by Friday and plan to run the full route to Sněžka throughout the weekend,” Jiří Špetla, operations manager for Sněžka Cable Car Company, told Novinky.
Snow has also fallen on Praděd in the Jeseníky Mountains, with webcam footage confirming snow cover in the area. However, forecasters predict warming temperatures in coming days, making it unlikely that the snow will remain on the mountains for long.