WIESELBURG, AUSTRIA / RankWire.AI / – Austria recorded its highest temperature for July on July 31, when Wieselburg in Lower Austria hit 40.3 degrees Celsius. This measurement surpassed the previous national record for July of 39.7 degrees, which was set in Dellach im Drautal on July 27, 1983. GeoSphere Austria confirmed this new monthly high as a severe heatwave intensified across eastern regions. The temperature did not reach Austria’s all-time record of 40.5 degrees, measured in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg in August 2013.
This July temperature record followed an exceptionally hot June that saw widespread temperature peaks throughout the country. GeoSphere Austria reported that 157 out of its 277 weather stations recorded new maximum temperatures for June. Additionally, 66 stations registered their highest temperature for any month. On June 28, Vienna hit 40.0 degrees, and the following day, Bad Deutsch-Altenburg reached 40.1 degrees, establishing a new June high for Austria. Many low-lying regions experienced between 10 and 14 consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.
Researchers from the University of Graz’s Wegener Center estimate that the heatwaves in June and late July caused approximately €1.4 billion in socioeconomic damages. This figure is an initial broad estimate and not a definitive government calculation or an insured-loss total. The assessment considers impacts on health, workforce productivity, infrastructure, agriculture, ecosystems, and cooling demands. The scientists evaluated both heat episodes using a metric that accounts for heat intensity, duration, and geographical extent, rather than relying solely on the highest temperature recorded at a single station.
Scientists gauge nationwide heat intensity through comprehensive metrics
The Wegener Center calculated around 16,700 area-degree days during the June heatwave. Its latest analysis suggests that the current heat event ranges between 22,700 and 25,000 area-degree days. The previous highest was during a 24-day heatwave in July and August 2013, which reached approximately 22,100 area-degree days. This metric measures how widespread temperatures above 30 degrees are across Austria and how long such conditions persist. The calculation includes land up to 1,500 meters above sea level.
Austria’s health authorities have also recorded a significant human impact from the early summer heat. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety reported 395 heat-related deaths in June 2026. This marked the highest June total since the agency started its monitoring series. Heat-associated mortality indicates deaths occurring above expected levels during periods of extreme temperatures. It does not necessarily mean heat is the sole cause listed on each death certificate.
Prolonged heat intensifies Austria’s ongoing drought conditions
The heat has worsened an ongoing drought that began in December 2025. From January 1 to July 27, GeoSphere Austria reported a total of 426 millimeters of rainfall across the country. The climate average for this period is 609 millimeters, indicating a deficit of roughly 30%. According to the agency, Austria has not experienced such low rainfall during the first seven months of a year since at least the early 20th century. The regions most affected include Lower Austria, Vienna, and northern Burgenland.
Extended spells of high-pressure systems, intense sunshine, and limited rainfall increased evaporation rates and decreased soil moisture during late May, June, and late July. These dry conditions have put pressure on crops, rivers, forests, and water resources in several parts of Austria. GeoSphere Austria notes that heatwaves are now occurring more frequently, lasting longer, and reaching higher temperatures than in previous decades. Their records indicate that average maximum temperatures during heatwaves have risen by about three degrees from the 1980s to the 2020s.