Servus! Is it worth (or safe) to drive the Timmelsjoch Pass during thunderstorms, or should I stick to Brenner?
Context: I planned a trip in a rental car to Alps starting this Wednesday (05/08) to escape the heatwave, but it now seems that the heatwave will end by then. Indeed, there are now reports about thunderstorms in the Alps that day. Today is Monday, so I think the weather reports are rather credible.
I am visiting Neuschwanstein on Wednesday morning and I have a hotel in St. Leonhard in Passeier booked Wednesday night. My plan was to drive the Timmelsjoch Wednesday afternoon. I'd then continue to Bolzen (to see the Ötzi Museum and South Tirol), then return to Innsbruck via Brenner on Thursday.
The view, drive, and museum on Timmelsjoch were things I really wanted to see, so I'd like to try to keep that itinerary. Since I'm going east towards to Innsbruck, I don't think it makes sense to Timmelsjoch northbound. Also, I doubt the weather will be much better Thursday.
My rental car is like a small executive car (like Mercedes C-Class). I have experience mountain driving back in the Western US (Cascades and Rocky Mountains), but I generally avoid mountains in inclement weather. I don't know what signs or government advisories to pay attention to during bad pass conditions.
Question: Should I cancel the Timmelsjoch southbound on account of weather or am I being too dramatic? How bad would the weather have to be for you, personally, to nope out?