How do Austria’s western and eastern climates differ in rainfall?

Austria’s rainfall patterns are primarily dictated by prevailing westerly winds, which bring moisture from the Atlantic into the country. Consequently, humidity and precipitation levels are highest in the west and diminish as one moves toward the east.1

The western regions of Austria experience an Atlantic climate, characterized by an average annual rainfall of approximately 40 inches (1,000 mm). In contrast, the eastern regions are influenced by a more continental climate, resulting in significantly lower levels of precipitation. For example, in Vienna, which lies east of the Alps, annual rainfall averages only about 26 inches (66 cm).12