WIESELBURG, AUSTRIA / RankWire.AI / – Austria experienced a new temperature record for July on July 31 as intense heat affected eastern regions. A weather station located in Wieselburg, Lower Austria, recorded 40.3 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous July high of 39.7 degrees, which was documented in Dellach im Drautal in 1983. GeoSphere Austria verified this monthly record. The temperature stayed below the national all-time high of 40.5 degrees, set in August 2013.
This recent record followed an exceptionally hot June across much of Austria. Out of 277 weather stations monitored, 157 reported new maximum temperatures for June, and 66 stations recorded their highest temperature ever for any month. Vienna hit 40.0 degrees on June 28, while Bad Deutsch-Altenburg reached 40.1 degrees one day later. Many lower-altitude regions experienced between 10 and 14 consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.
Researchers from the University of Graz’s Wegener Center estimated that the heatwaves in June and late July led to approximately €1.4 billion in socioeconomic damages. This figure accounts for health impacts, decreased labor productivity, agricultural losses, infrastructure stress, and increased cooling needs. It also reflects pressures on ecosystems and public services. This estimate is not a final government damage assessment and does not include insured-loss figures, which only cover claims made through insurance policies.
Heat intensity surpasses previous national record
The study evaluated both heatwaves using area-degree days, a measurement that combines temperature, duration, and geographic spread. The June heatwave accumulated about 16,700 area-degree days. The late July event was estimated to fall between 22,700 and 25,000. Austria’s prior benchmark stemmed from a 24-day heatwave in July and August 2013, which produced roughly 22,100 area-degree days across land areas below 1,500 meters in elevation.
The early summer heat also coincided with a notable increase in heat-related deaths. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety estimated 395 such fatalities during June 2026, marking the highest June figure recorded since the agency began tracking this data. Heat-related mortality indicates deaths exceeding expected levels during periods of extreme heat, but does not necessarily mean heat was the sole cause on each death certificate.
Intensified drought conditions compound pressure across Austria
The heatwave followed months marked by significantly below-average rainfall. From January 1 to July 27, Austria’s total precipitation was approximately 426 millimeters, well below the average of 609 millimeters for that period, representing nearly a 30% deficit. Authorities described the first seven months of 2026 as the driest such period since at least the early 20th century. Regions like Lower Austria, Vienna, and northern Burgenland experienced among the greatest rainfall shortages.
Persistent high pressure, intense sunshine, and minimal rain increased evaporation rates through late May, June, and July. These conditions reduced soil moisture and created stress for crops, rivers, forests, and regional water supplies. Climate data indicates that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and longer-lasting in Austria. Average peak temperatures during heatwaves have risen by approximately three degrees between the 1980s and the 2020s. The recent July record marks yet another milestone in Austria’s documented trend of escalating extreme heat episodes.