Seasonality
There are two high seasons in Tyrol: winter and summer! The winter season begins in December and ends around March-April, depending on the snow conditions in the resorts. It is, of course, essentially a winter sports tourism season. The summer season runs from late May or early June to late October. This is when natural sites (with or without admission charges) and long-distance hiking trails are accessible. In November and around April, many establishments take their annual vacations, and some resorts, so lively in season, enter a phase of lethargy. This doesn't apply to the towns, of course, where hotels, restaurants, stores and cultural venues are open all year round.
Temperatures and rainfall
On the Austrian side: in Innsbruck (574 m a.s.l.), the average temperature is 18.1°C in July, -1.7°C in January. In Lienz (673 m a.s.l.), the average temperature is 17.9°C in July and -5.2°C in January, averaging 7°C per year. The annual average is 8.5°C. In Bozen-Bolzano (260 m altitude), we have 22°C in July, 0.3°C in January and 11.7°C over the whole year. Precipitation averages 896 mm in Innsbruck and 915.1 mm in Lienz on the Austrian side. In Italy, 701.6 mm falls in Bozen-Bolzano. Thus, the South Tyrol enjoys far more sunshine (300 days of sunshine a year) and less rainfall than the Austrian Tyrol, and Trentino already has a much warmer, semi-Mediterranean climate. On the whole, however, it can be said that Tyrol has cold, wet winters with lots of snow (hence the quality of its ski resorts) and mild, temperate summers with plenty of sunshine.
The climate is inspired by geography
With its typical mountain climate, Tyrol is indeed an Alpine region. But there's an important difference between the Austrian, continental north of the region and the Italian south, where the influence of the Mediterranean largely penetrates the valleys. The contrast is roughly the same as that between the Savoyard and Hautes-Alpes climates. On the Austrian side, thanks to harsher temperatures than on the southern slopes, but also than in the western Alpine regions, snow cover is far superior at the same altitude. The Italian side, on the other hand, can take on a more Mediterranean air, particularly in the Adige Valley. Moreover, generalities are difficult to state in this type of region, with as many variations as there are altitude curves, but also as many valleys: depending on exposure and position in relation to the mountains, the valleys are more or less exposed to winds, clouds...
Climate change and ecological impact
The global warming phenomenon is having a lasting impact on the fragile balance of ecosystems. As is the case everywhere, Tyrol's numerous glaciers are gradually shrinking. It's still possible to ski on the following 5 glaciers, which are open almost all year round: Kaunertaler, Sölden, Pitztaler, Stubai and Hintertux, but this will no longer be the case in a few decades' time. Man is obviously not to blame: the ecological impact of winter tourism on the mountain ecosystem exists, and the accelerated melting of glaciers is one consequence. In 2019, for example, the NGO WWF published unbelievable photos of shovels planing the glacier between Pitztal and Ötztal. The reason: to maintain the ski area..
