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Is Austria set to break record for longest heatwave?

The whole of Austria remains under a heat warning until Friday, with temperatures in some parts of the country slated to hit 36C over the next few days.

Published: 23 August 2023 11:16 CEST

Is Austria set to break record for longest heatwave?

A man jumps into the "Old Danube" river in Vienna, Austria. Temperatures in Vienna could hit 36 degrees Celsius before Saturday, in what could become Austria's longest heatwave. (Photo by ALEX HALADA / AFP)

Despite a long cold and rainy spell at the beginning of the month, August in Austria is ending in an outdoor sauna.

It’s been a month of extremes, with the first third of August marking Austria’s coolest since 2006 – followed by this summer’s longest heatwave – and possibly ever.

The University of Innsbruck – which has measured weather and temperatures in Austria since 1777 – previously recorded the Tyrol capital’s longest heatwave in 2003.

That heatwave, which meteorologists define as at least three days in a row of temperatures above 30C, lasted for 13 days.

The current heatwave is not expected to end until Saturday. If it lasts that long, it will set a new heatwave record of 14 days.

The Alpine city has also had nearly 30 days this summer above 30C. That’s above the average of 22 it saw between 1991 and 2020.

Meanwhile, the capital in Vienna saw another record. At 25.5C, the city saw the warmest night ever recorded in the final two weeks of August – giving little chance for residents to be able to cool off in the evening from scorching daytime highs.

To help deal with the heat, local authorities recommend comfortable and loose clothes, lukewarm drinks to keep the body hydrated, and to take midday breaks if possible.

READ ALSO: How is Vienna planning to deal with heatwaves?

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How global warming is changing the weather in Austria

Heavy rain, storms, hail, and severe weather events set to intensify and become more common are among the key findings of Austria’s new Climate Status Report.

“Heavy rain, storms and hail are no longer exceptional events and cause millions in damage. In future, we must join forces even more in the fight against climate change and take effective measures to counteract it”, said Astrid Eisenkopf, Deputy Governor of Burgenland and Chairwoman of the Provincial Climate Protection Conference.

These events, which caused significant damage in 2023, are projected to become more commonplace, potentially transforming Austria’s weather patterns into a year-round barrage of extremes.

If 2023 repeats itself, here’s what a year could look like regarding the weather in Austria.

READ ALSO: Vast Vienna wastewater heat pumps showcase EU climate drive

January to April

According to the Climate Report, heavy snowfall dominated the weather in January last year. Austria could experience erratic snowfall patterns that disrupt the transportation and tourism industries. In February, storms and strong gusts of wind caused trees to topple.

In April, late frosts hit the country, affecting the production of fruit trees.

READ ALSO: What you should know to stay safe in the mountains

May to August

Spring months could be marked by torrential downpours, which could lead to flash floods and overwhelm existing infrastructure already burdened by glacial melt.

According to the report, these months last year saw numerous thunderstorms, with heavy rain, squalls, and hail sweeping across the country. Permafrost thawing caused landslides in Austria, which is set to become more common.

August is the peak summer month in Austria, and it also sees extreme storms and heatwaves. Last year, massive rainfall in the south of Austria caused countless damages, including flooding, mudslides, and landslides, as well as high lake and groundwater levels. In Carinthia, people had to be evacuated in 66 of 132 municipalities.

READ ALSO: Europe could soon face ‘nearly 100,000 deaths a year linked to extreme heat’

In Styria, 280 landslides occurred due to the days of rainfall. Almost 1,000 fire departments and 16,000 firefighters were deployed more than 6,000 times. In total, damage amounting to over 100 million euros was recorded from August 3rd to 6th.

Four heatwaves occurred over the course of the year, two of which lasted an unusually long time, lasting up to 18 days (July) and 16 days (August).

READ ALSO: How is Vienna planning to deal with heatwaves?

September to December

The report shows that September and October will go down as the “warmest autumn” in recorded history.

The sun shone for an average of 1,605 hours over the year. At 1,275 mm, the Austrian average precipitation over the year was 21 percent higher, so it was hot and rained a lot.

Several new state records were set for precipitation totals, especially in November and December. The year ended with the storm “Zoltan,” which damaged roofs, caused power outages, and blocked roads and rail links in almost all parts of the country.

“The 2023 climate assessment shows that it is necessary to adapt as well as possible to the existing and expected future impacts.”, said Herbert Formayer, scientific director of the report and professor at the Institute of Meteorology and Climatology (BOKU).

READ ALSO: How to protect yourself during storm season in Austria

He added: “Not only the extent of the damage but also the risk potential for the population is increasing. Unfortunately, we saw this far too often last year: people who were in distress had to be evacuated or were cut off from their drinking water supply.

‘Adaptation measures and climate protection are an absolute must and urgently needed, not only for agriculture and forestry, which are severely affected by extreme weather but also for the security of supply for the population.”

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