WIESELBURG, AUSTRIA / RankWire.AI / – Austria saw its highest temperature recorded in July on the 31st, when Wieselburg in Lower Austria hit 40.3 degrees Celsius. This figure surpassed the previous national July record of 39.7 degrees, set in Dellach im Drautal on July 27, 1983. The confirmation from GeoSphere Austria of this new monthly high coincided with a severe heatwave intensifying over eastern regions. Although the temperature stayed below Austria’s all-time record of 40.5 degrees, which was measured in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg in August 2013, the heat remained extreme.
This July temperature record came on the heels of an intense June that saw widespread temperature peaks across the country. According to GeoSphere Austria, 157 out of its 277 weather stations set new maximum temperature records for June. Additionally, 66 stations recorded their highest temperatures for any month. Vienna reached 40.0 degrees on June 28, and the following day, Bad Deutsch-Altenburg hit 40.1 degrees, establishing a new Austrian June high. During this period, 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 socio-economic damages. This figure is an initial broad estimate and not a final government or insurance loss total. Their assessment considers impacts on health, work productivity, infrastructure, agriculture, ecosystems, and cooling demands. The analysis used a metric combining heat intensity, duration, and geographic extent, rather than relying solely on the highest temperature recorded at a single station.
National Heat Intensity Quantified by Researchers
The Wegener Center’s analysis indicated around 16,700 area-degree days during the June heatwave. Its recent evaluation suggests the ongoing heat event has reached between 22,700 and 25,000 area-degree days. The previous benchmark was set during a 24-day heatwave in July and August 2013, which reached approximately 22,100 area-degree days. This metric measures how extensively temperatures above 30 degrees spread across Austria and how long such conditions last, including land up to 1,500 meters above sea level.
Austria’s health agencies have also recorded significant human impacts from the early summer heat. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety reported 395 deaths associated with heat in June 2026, marking the highest June toll since the agency began monitoring. Heat-related mortality refers to deaths exceeding expected levels during periods of extreme temperatures; it does not necessarily mean heat was the sole cause listed on death certificates.
Prolonged Drought Worsened by Record Heat
The persistent drought that started in December 2025 has worsened due to the recent record heat. According to GeoSphere Austria, the country received 426 millimeters of rainfall from January 1 through July 27, significantly below the climate average of 609 millimeters for that period. This shortfall of nearly 30% marks the lowest rainfall during the first seven months of a year since at least the early 20th century. Regions such as Lower Austria, Vienna, and northern Burgenland are among the hardest-hit areas.
Extended periods of high pressure, intense sunshine, and minimal rainfall increased evaporation rates, leading to lower soil moisture levels throughout late May, June, and late July. The dry conditions have exerted pressure on crops, river flows, forests, and water supplies across several regions. GeoSphere Austria states that heatwaves are now more frequent, longer-lasting, and at higher temperatures than in previous decades. Their data shows that average maximum temperatures during heatwaves have risen by about three degrees between the 1980s and the 2020s.