On the 21.09.2014, numerous severe thunderstorm ocurred over Austria. Chasers from both Skywarn Austria and Stormhunters Austria chased and reported the storms.
In all of W Europe, 18,941 lightnings were registered. Below is a map by lightningmaps.org, showing the lightnings registered on the 21.09.2014.
2014.09.21 Blitze.png - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
The initiating factor to overcome the convective inhibition was a cold front which moved through Austria in the afternoon.
Below is an analysis by the DWD (German weather service), which shows the situation (and ground station recordings) at 12UTC on Sunday, 21.09.2014.
2014.09.21 DWD 12.gif - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
By the evening at 18UTC, the cold front had reached Austria.
2014.09.21 DWD 18.gif - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
And in the night, by 00UTC, the cold front began to weaken along the north side of the Alps.
2014.09.22 DWD 00.gif - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
By the next morning, a ew low pressure area had formed and moved towards the SE.
2014.09.22 DWD 06.gif - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
The GFS model forecast run of 00UTC predicted the most severe thunderstorms for the evening at 18UTC. The forecast favored SE Carynthia, SW Styria, NE Styria and W Burgenland.
2014.09.21 GFS 00 for 18.gif - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
Due to few clouds, the sun was able to shine very intensly on the eastern and southern regions of Austria. This enabled the temperatures to, reach high values compared to the usual temperatures for that time of year. 27°C was measured in Kleinzicken and Neusiedl am See, both located in Burgenland.
The temperatures at 17:00 local time can be seen below:
2014.09.21 temp 17.gif - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
The dewpoint was very high, especially in SE Austria.
2014.09.21 dew 17.gif - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
The arrival of the cold front can be clearly seen in the pressure tendency readings. In the map below, which shows the values of 17MEST (local time), the cold front has already reached the far W of Austria.
2014.09.21 pres 17.gif - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
More will be posted as a comment.