Heat Wave Live Updates

Hotter Than Greece Already by Mid-Morning

The second extreme heat wave of the summer has Austria firmly in its grip.(Bild: APA/ZOE-SOPHIE ZIMMERMANN)

The heat shows no signs of letting up: Even today, Friday, temperatures have already risen above 40 degrees—and they’re still climbing! Water shortages, an increased risk of wildfires, and health concerns are also on the rise. All the latest weather updates and warnings are available in the “Krone” live ticker.

39 degrees and higher! The heat index shows where it could get particularly hot in the coming days:

The day’s top stories in a nutshell:

• Just before 4 p.m., the town of Haag (Lower Austria) became the first municipality in Austria to break the 40-degree mark that day, reaching 40.3 degrees. 
• At these temperatures, often the only relief isa dip in cool water! ÖSV starConny Hüttershows on Facebook how she’s beating the sweltering heat.
• In Hochlecken (Upper Austria), a helicopter had to fly in 7,000 liters of water tosupply calves.
• The ongoing drought is leading tothe first water shortages.Upper Austriahas already reported its first emergency water deliveries.
• The heat isincreasingtherisk of wildfires. On Thursday, a major alert was issued inthe border region between Upper Austria and Styria. Emergency responders also had to be deployedin East Tyrol. 

The heat is taking its toll on Austria: drought, the risk of wildfires, and health risks continue to rise.(Bild: Krone-Collage/Christof Birbaumer, APA/ZOE-SOPHIE ZIMMERMANN, FF Siegendorf)

The krone.at Heat Wave Tracker: 

Heat wave expected to last longer than originally thought
On August 8, 2013, Bad Deutsch-Altenburg in Lower Austria broke the 40-degree mark for the first time. At exactly 40.5 degrees Celsius, it is the hottest day on record in Austria. But that record could soon be broken, as the latest models show (see also the Heat Check above).

During the extreme heat wave in June, the capital city of Vienna also reached the 40-degree mark for the first time in history. However, it was already clear back then: It could get even hotter this year. That’s because the next heat wave is currently sweeping across the country with full force.

While Friday had previously been touted as the hottest day of the year, the latest weather models show that this won’t be the peak.

41 degrees forecast for Monday for the first time
On the contrary, a new heat record is expected in Vienna on Monday. Temperatures are forecast to reach 40 degrees. In Austria’s heat hotspot, Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, the thermometer could even climb above the 41-degree mark. For now, GeoSphere Austria has not issued the highest warning level because a cooling-off period was expected over the weekend, but that could now change.