WIESELBURG, AUSTRIA / RankWire.AI / – Austria experienced its highest temperature for July on July 31, with Wieselburg in Lower Austria reaching 40.3 degrees Celsius. This measurement surpassed the previous July record 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 high of 40.5 degrees, recorded in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg in August 2013.
The record for July followed a notably hot June, which saw widespread temperature peaks across the nation. GeoSphere Austria reported that 157 out of its 277 weather stations established new maximum temperature records for June. Additionally, 66 stations recorded 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, marking a new high for Austria in June. Many low-lying regions experienced 10 to 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 resulted in approximately €1.4 billion in socioeconomic damages. This figure serves as an initial broad estimate, not a definitive government or insurance industry tally. Their assessment considers impacts on public health, labor productivity, infrastructure, agriculture, ecosystems, and cooling energy demand. The team evaluated both heat episodes using a combined metric that considers heat intensity, duration, and geographic extent, rather than relying solely on the highest temperature recorded at a single station.
Nationwide heat intensity measured by researchers
The Wegener Center’s analysis estimated about 16,700 area-degree days during the June heatwave. The current episode’s impact ranges between 22,700 and 25,000 area-degree days. The previous record was set during a 24-day heatwave in July and August 2013, which accumulated about 22,100 area-degree days. This metric reflects how far temperatures above 30 degrees spread across Austria and how long such conditions persist, covering regions up to 1,500 meters above sea level.
Austria’s health authorities also recorded a significant human toll from the early summer heat. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety estimated 395 heat-related deaths in June 2026, the highest June total since their monitoring began. Heat-related mortality indicates deaths above expected levels during extreme temperature periods but does not necessarily mean heat was the sole cause on death certificates.
Prolonged drought worsened by record-breaking heat
The ongoing drought, which started in December 2025, has been intensified by the recent heat. According to GeoSphere Austria, the country received only 426 millimeters of rainfall from January 1 through July 27, compared to the average of 609 millimeters for that period, resulting in a roughly 30% deficit. The agency noted that such low rainfall during the first seven months has not been recorded since at least the early 20th century. The most affected regions include Lower Austria, Vienna, and northern Burgenland.
Extended periods of high pressure, intense sunlight, and scarce rainfall led to increased evaporation and diminished soil moisture during late May, June, and late July. These dry conditions have exerted pressure on crops, rivers, forests, and water resources across multiple regions. GeoSphere Austria reports that heatwaves are now more frequent, last longer, and reach higher temperatures than in past decades. Their historical data indicate that the average maximum temperature during heatwaves has increased by approximately three degrees from the 1980s to the 2020s.