Almost just in time for the start of autumn, winter has made a brief appearance in the Alps. Just a few days ago, it was still warm there, like late summer, but now the highest peaks are cloaked in a white winter blanket.

On Friday morning, Austria’s mountains are looking their very best: above around 2,000 metres, the combination of fresh snow and plenty of sunshine is making for truly glorious weather. There is between 5 and 20 centimetres of fresh snow in the high mountains.

However, anyone wishing to enjoy the freshly snow-covered mountain scenery shouldn’t wait too long. It’s set to get warmer again at the weekend, and the snow will soon start to melt away.

So this doesn’t mean winter has set in for good just yet. However, further cold snaps bringing snow as far as the higher Alpine valleys are possible at any time this autumn.