Many parts of Austria have been hit by severe winter weather, with the Steiermark region worst affected.

Heavy snow and hurricane-strength winds have been causing countless accidents and widespread damage. Electricity has been cut to some areas.

Forty centimetres of snow was recorded on Tuesday night near Salzburg. This was the most at this time of year for a quarter of a century. In the Vorarlberg region, fallen trees disrupted train services.

The severe cold weather is forecast to continue. The snow line in the Austrian Alps is now at 300 metres above sea level.

photo: Flickr / stormgrass