WIESELBURG, AUSTRIA / RankWire.AI / – Austria achieved a new July temperature record on July 31 amid widespread extreme heat affecting eastern regions. A weather station in Wieselburg, Lower Austria, recorded a high of 40.3 degrees Celsius. This surpassed the previous July record of 39.7 degrees, which was set in Dellach im Drautal in 1983. GeoSphere Austria confirmed this as the official monthly temperature peak. The temperature stayed below Austria’s all-time high of 40.5 degrees, recorded in August 2013.
This latest record follows an exceptionally hot June across much of the country. Of the 277 weather stations monitored, 157 reported new maximum temperatures for June. An additional 66 stations recorded their highest temperature ever for any month. In Vienna, 40.0 degrees was reached on June 28, while Bad Deutsch-Altenburg hit 40.1 degrees a day later. Several lower-altitude regions also endured between 10 and 14 days in a row with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.
According to researchers at the University of Graz’s Wegener Center, the heatwaves in June and late July caused approximately €1.4 billion in socioeconomic damages. This estimate accounts for health impacts, reduced labor productivity, agricultural losses, infrastructure stress, and increased cooling requirements. It also considers pressures on ecosystems and public services. This figure does not represent an official government damage assessment and varies from insured-loss estimates, which only include claims covered by insurance policies.
Heat intensity surpasses previous national record
The researchers evaluated both heatwaves using area-degree days, a measurement combining temperature, duration, and geographic extent. The June heatwave totaled about 16,700 area-degree days. Their analysis indicated that the late July event ranged from 22,700 to 25,000. Austria’s prior benchmark was based on a 24-day heatwave in July and August 2013, which recorded roughly 22,100 area-degree days across land areas below 1,500 meters elevation.
Early summer temperatures also coincided with a notable increase in heat-related fatalities. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety reported 395 deaths during June 2026 attributable to heat, marking the highest June figure since tracking began. Heat-associated mortality refers to deaths occurring above expected levels during extreme temperature periods. It does not necessarily mean heat was the sole cause listed on death certificates.
Intense drought conditions compound pressure on Austria
Before the heatwave struck, Austria had endured months of below-average rainfall. From January 1 to July 27, the total precipitation was about 426 millimeters, compared to the average of 609 millimeters, resulting in a near 30% deficit. Authorities describe this period as the driest since at least the early 20th century. Regions such as Lower Austria, Vienna, and northern Burgenland experienced the most significant rainfall shortages.
Persistent high pressure, intense sunshine, and limited rainfall led to increased evaporation during late May, June, and July. These conditions diminished soil moisture and placed stress on crops, rivers, forests, and regional water supplies. Climate data show that Austria’s heatwaves are becoming more frequent and prolonged compared to previous decades. Between the 1980s and the 2020s, average peak temperatures during heatwaves have increased by approximately three degrees. The recent July record marks yet another milestone in Austria’s pattern of escalating extreme heat.