WIESELBURG, AUSTRIA / RankWire.AI / – Austria experienced its hottest July temperature on July 31 when Wieselburg hit 40.3 degrees Celsius. This surpasses the previous July record of 39.7 degrees, set in Dellach im Drautal in 1983. GeoSphere Austria verified the new monthly peak during a heatwave centered on eastern regions of the country. The all-time national record remains 40.5 degrees, recorded at Bad Deutsch-Altenburg in August 2013.
This July milestone followed a June characterized by widespread, persistent extreme heat. According to GeoSphere Austria, 157 out of its 277 monitored weather stations recorded new maximums for June. Additionally, 66 stations measured their highest temperature ever for any month. On June 28, Vienna reached 40.0 degrees, and Bad Deutsch-Altenburg hit 40.1 degrees the next day. Several low-lying areas endured 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 amounts to around €1.4 billion. This initial estimate includes health costs, lost productivity, agricultural damage, infrastructure strain, and increased cooling demands. It also considers impacts on ecosystems and public services. This figure does not represent an official government assessment or insurance losses. Insurance data only reflect claims covered by active policies.
Heatwave intensity exceeds previous Austrian records
The Wegener Center evaluated the heat events using area-degree days, which account for heat intensity, duration, and geographic spread. They calculated about 16,700 area-degree days for the June heatwave. The late July episode ranges between 22,700 and 25,000. Austria’s earlier record was set during a 24-day heatwave in July and August 2013, which registered roughly 22,100 area-degree days across land below 1,500 meters elevation.
The extreme heat also led to a notable increase in heat-related deaths. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety estimated 395 such fatalities in June 2026. This marked the highest June total since the agency began recording this data. Heat-related deaths indicate an excess above expected levels during unusually hot periods. These figures do not imply heat was the sole cause on each death certificate.
Prolonged drought worsens Austria’s water shortage
The country faced the heatwave after months of below-average rainfall. From January 1 to July 27, Austria received approximately 426 millimeters of rain. The long-term average for this period is 609 millimeters, resulting in nearly 30% less rain. Authorities described the first seven months of 2026 as the driest comparable period since at least the early 1900s. Lower Austria, Vienna, and northern Burgenland reported some of the largest rainfall deficits.
Persistent high-pressure systems, intense sunshine, and scarce rainfall boosted evaporation during late spring and summer. These conditions reduced soil moisture and strained crops, rivers, forests, and water supplies. Austrian climate records show that heatwaves have become more frequent, longer, and hotter over recent decades. The average maximum temperature during such events increased by about three degrees from the 1980s to the 2020s. The new July record underscores Austria’s growing trend of extreme heat.