WIESELBURG, AUSTRIA / RankWire.AI / – Austria recorded its highest temperature for July on July 31, when Wieselburg hit 40.3 degrees Celsius. This temperature surpassed the previous July record of 39.7 degrees, which was set in Dellach im Drautal in 1983. GeoSphere Austria verified this new monthly peak during a heatwave affecting eastern parts of the country. Austria’s all-time temperature record remains 40.5 degrees, measured at Bad Deutsch-Altenburg in August 2013.
This July milestone followed a June characterized by widespread, prolonged extreme heat. GeoSphere Austria reported new maximum temperatures at 157 of its 277 monitored weather stations. Additionally, 66 stations registered their highest temperature ever recorded in any month. On June 28, Vienna reached 40.0 degrees, while Bad Deutsch-Altenburg recorded 40.1 degrees the following day. Several low-lying regions experienced 10 to 14 consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.
The Wegener Center at the University of Graz estimated that the combined socioeconomic impact of the June and late July heatwaves amounted to around €1.4 billion. This initial estimate includes health effects, productivity losses, agricultural damage, infrastructure stress, and increased cooling demands. It also considers impacts on ecosystems and public services. This figure does not represent an official government valuation or total insured losses. Insurance data only covers damages under active policies.
Heatwave intensity exceeds previous Austrian events
The Wegener Center assessed these heatwaves using area-degree days, which combine heat intensity, duration, and geographical spread. The researchers calculated approximately 16,700 area-degree days for the June heatwave. Their analysis placed the late July episode between 22,700 and 25,000. Austria’s prior record was set during a 24-day heatwave in July and August 2013, which reached about 22,100 area-degree days across land below 1,500 meters elevation.
The extreme temperatures also led to a notable rise in heat-related deaths. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety estimated that 395 such deaths occurred in June 2026. This was the highest June total since the agency began tracking this measure. Heat-associated mortality indicates deaths above normal expected levels during periods of unusually high temperatures. The calculation does not necessarily mean heat was the direct cause in each case on death certificates.
Precipitation shortfall worsens drought across Austria
Austria faced this intense heatwave after months of below-average rainfall. From January 1 to July 27, the country received approximately 426 millimeters of rain. The long-term average for this period is 609 millimeters, resulting in a shortfall of nearly 30%. Authorities described the first seven months of 2026 as the driest comparable period since at least the early 1900s. Notably, Lower Austria, Vienna, and northern Burgenland recorded some of the largest rainfall deficits in the nation.
Persistent high-pressure systems, intense sunlight, and scarce rainfall increased evaporation during late spring and summer. These conditions reduced soil moisture levels and heightened pressure on crops, rivers, forests, and water supplies. Climate records show that heatwaves in Austria have become more frequent, longer, and more intense over recent decades. Average maximum temperatures during heatwaves increased by approximately three degrees between the 1980s and the 2020s. The new July record further underscores Austria’s rising trend of extreme heat.