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A new heatwave hits Austria on Tuesday. By the weekend, it will be well over 30 degrees across the country, with up to 37 degrees possible in the east. Meteorologist Michele Salmi contradicts forecasts that this could be the last heatwave in Austria this year. After a brief cool-down, it will most likely be hot again by the middle of next week.
Tuesday (today) will bring temperatures of up to 35 degrees. There is no change in sight until the weekend. “As is so often the case, the focus of the heat will be in the east and south-east of the country,” says Salmi. The highest temperatures are expected from Klagenfurt, via Graz, to Vienna. In the federal capital, in Marchfeld, and central and northern Burgenland, temperatures could climb up to 37 degrees in some places. In the west—Bregenz, Innsbruck, and, in the course of the week, Salzburg—it will be somewhat cooler.
Austrians can also expect tropical nights again. Graz, St. Pölten, and Eisenstadt have already set records for the year. For example, the highest value in the Styrian capital so far was 19 in 2015. “Now we’re already at 20,” says the expert from the Ubimet weather service. In Vienna, the annual record could fall with this heatwave. It currently stands at 20, with the peak value being 23 in 2015.
After the heat is before the heat
The heat is likely to end on Saturday in the west and Sunday in the east. Heavy thunderstorms will reach the region, and rain will set in during the day. Temperatures are unlikely to reach 30 degrees. “The real cooling will then come on Monday,” says Salmi, “with lots of clouds, some rain, and probably below 25 degrees nationwide.”
But this is unlikely to last. “After this cooling at the beginning of the week, all the models are actually pointing to a new heatwave,” says the meteorologist. He contradicts reports that the current heatwave could be the last one in Austria. “I can’t confirm that”. Of course, you can’t say that 100 percent. But the probability is around 80 percent that it will soon be hot again, explains Salmi. However, the extreme values are unlikely to be as high as this week.
“Fortunately, spring was very wet”
The current temperatures are not normal. This summer is 1.5 degrees warmer than average. Previous peaks of up to 40 degrees have not been reached. But: “What is unusual this summer is that the heat is so persistent,” says Salmi. Since mid-June, there have only been brief interruptions, but they haven’t been freezing, with temperatures of around 22 to 25 degrees. “Fortunately, the spring was very wet. Otherwise, we would already have major water problems in the east and south-east of the country,” says the expert.
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