WIESELBURG, AUSTRIA / RankWire.AI / – Austria reached its highest temperature ever recorded in July on July 31, when Wieselburg in Lower Austria hit 40.3 degrees Celsius. This measurement broke the previous national July record of 39.7 degrees, set in Dellach im Drautal on July 27, 1983. GeoSphere Austria confirmed this new monthly peak as an intense heatwave tightened its hold on the eastern regions. The temperature stayed below Austria’s all-time record of 40.5 degrees, which was measured in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg in August 2013.
The July temperature record was preceded by a particularly intense June that saw widespread high temperatures across the nation. GeoSphere Austria reported that 157 out of its 277 weather stations set new maximum temperature records for June. Additionally, 66 stations recorded their highest temperature ever for any month. On June 28, Vienna reached 40.0 degrees, followed by Bad Deutsch-Altenburg recording 40.1 degrees the next day—marking a new Austrian June high. Many lower-altitude areas experienced temperatures above 30 degrees for 10 to 14 consecutive days.
Researchers from the University of Graz’s Wegener Center estimate that the heatwaves in June and late July caused approximately €1.4 billion in socioeconomic damages. This figure is an initial broad estimate, not a definitive government or insurance industry total. The calculation accounts for impacts on health, workforce productivity, infrastructure, agriculture, ecosystems, and cooling demand. The team used a metric that considers heat intensity, duration, and geographic extent, rather than just the highest temperature recorded at a single station.
National assessment of heat intensity conducted by researchers
The Wegener Center’s analysis shows about 16,700 area-degree days during the June heatwave. Its latest evaluation places the current heat episode between 22,700 and 25,000 area-degree days. During a 24-day heatwave in July and August 2013, Austria registered around 22,100 area-degree days. This metric measures the extent of temperatures above 30 degrees across Austria and the duration of such conditions, including land at elevations up to 1,500 meters above sea level.
Austria’s health authorities have also documented significant human impacts from the early summer heat. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety estimated 395 heat-related deaths in June 2026, marking the highest June total since the agency began its monitoring series. Heat-related mortality refers to deaths exceeding the expected number during periods of extreme temperatures; it does not necessarily mean heat was the sole cause listed on death certificates.
Intense heat exacerbates ongoing drought conditions in Austria
The current heat has worsened a drought that has persisted since December 2025. According to GeoSphere Austria, the country received 426 millimeters of rainfall from January 1 through July 27, whereas the climate average for this period is 609 millimeters, representing roughly a 30% deficit. The agency indicated that Austria has not experienced such low rainfall in the first seven months of a year since at least the early 20th century. The most affected regions include Lower Austria, Vienna, and northern Burgenland.
Extended periods of high pressure, intense sunlight, and scarce rainfall contributed to increased evaporation and diminished soil moisture during late May, June, and late July. These dry conditions have placed considerable stress on crops, rivers, forests, and water supplies across various regions. GeoSphere Austria reports that heatwaves are now more frequent, longer-lasting, and reaching higher temperatures than in previous decades, with records indicating that average maximum temperatures during heatwaves have risen by about three degrees from the 1980s to the 2020s.