WIESELBURG, AUSTRIA / RankWire.AI / – Austria experienced its hottest July temperature on July 31, when Wieselburg in Lower Austria hit 40.3 degrees Celsius. This temperature surpassed the previous national July record of 39.7 degrees, set in Dellach im Drautal on July 27, 1983. GeoSphere Austria confirmed this new monthly high as a severe heatwave intensified its hold over eastern parts of the country. The temperature remained below Austria’s all-time record of 40.5 degrees, recorded in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg in August 2013.
Following an exceptionally hot June that saw widespread temperature peaks across Austria, the July record was established. GeoSphere Austria reported that 157 out of 277 weather stations recorded new maximum temperatures for June, with 66 stations reaching their highest temperature ever recorded in any month. Vienna experienced 40.0 degrees on June 28, while Bad Deutsch-Altenburg reached 40.1 degrees the following day, setting a new Austrian June high. Several low-altitude regions endured between 10 and 14 days consecutively above 30 degrees.
Researchers from the University of Graz’s Wegener Center have estimated that the combined heatwaves in June and late July caused socioeconomic damages totaling approximately €1.4 billion. This figure is an initial broad estimate, not a definitive government or insured-loss total. Their assessment considers impacts on health, productivity, infrastructure, agriculture, ecosystems, and cooling demands. The analysis utilized a metric that accounts for heat intensity, duration, and geographic spread rather than relying solely on the highest temperature recorded at a single station.
National heat intensity quantified by researchers
According to the Wegener Center, about 16,700 area-degree days were accumulated during the June heatwave. The latest evaluation indicates the current episode falls 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 reached approximately 22,100 area-degree days. This metric measures the extent of temperatures exceeding 30 degrees spread across Austria and the duration of those conditions, covering land up to 1,500 meters above sea level.
The Austrian health authorities have also documented a significant human impact stemming from the early summer heat. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety estimated that 395 deaths related to heat occurred in June 2026, marking the highest June total since the agency began tracking such data. Heat-related mortality indicates deaths exceeding expected levels during extreme temperature periods but does not necessarily mean heat was the sole cause listed on death certificates.
Prolonged drought worsened by record-breaking heat
The ongoing drought, which started in December 2025, has intensified due to the recent high temperatures. GeoSphere Austria reported a total of 426 millimeters of rainfall nationwide from January 1 through July 27, significantly below the climate average of 609 millimeters for the same period, representing a deficit of roughly 30%. The agency noted that such low rainfall during the first seven months of the year has not been recorded in Austria since at least the early 20th century. Areas like Lower Austria, Vienna, and northern Burgenland are among the most affected.
Extended periods of high pressure, intense sunshine, and limited precipitation led to increased evaporation and decreased soil moisture during late May, June, and late July. These dry conditions have put pressure on crops, rivers, forests, and water supplies across several regions. GeoSphere Austria also observed that heatwaves are becoming more frequent, last longer, and reach higher temperatures than in previous decades. Their records show that average maximum temperatures during such events have increased by about three degrees between the 1980s and the 2020s.