Austria sizzles through record 40.3°C heat as drought fears intensify

Austria is grappling with one of its most severe summers on record after temperatures climbed to an unprecedented 40.3 degrees Celsius, setting a new national record for July and raising fresh concerns over drought, wildfires and mounting economic losses.

Meteorologists said the highest temperature was recorded in Wieselburg, surpassing the previous July record of 39.7 degrees Celsius, which had stood since July 27, 1983, when it was measured in the southern state of Carinthia.

The most intense heat has been concentrated in Lower Austria and Upper Austria, where prolonged high temperatures have placed growing pressure on public health, agriculture and critical infrastructure.

Climate experts warn that the ongoing heatwave could eclipse the country's devastating 2013 summer heat event, making it one of Austria's most extreme episodes of prolonged high temperatures. It marks the second major heatwave to hit the country this summer.

Researchers estimate that the two heatwaves have already inflicted around €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) in economic losses, with damage reported across agriculture, infrastructure and other climate-sensitive sectors.

Austria's national weather service has warned that the extreme conditions are far from over. Forecasts indicate that a combination of tropical air masses and a persistent high-pressure system stretching across southwestern Europe will keep temperatures exceptionally high for at least another week beginning Monday.

Scientists at the University of Graz estimate that around 80 percent of the current heatwave's intensity can be linked to human-induced climate change, underscoring the growing impact of global warming on extreme weather events across Europe.

Experts caution that continued heat could sharply increase the risk of prolonged drought, large-scale wildfires, water shortages and infrastructure damage, while calling for stronger climate adaptation measures and long-term resilience planning.

Austria is among several European countries experiencing increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, a trend scientists say is accelerating as global temperatures continue to rise.