Vienna hits historic 41 °C temperature record
On 4 August 2026 the weather station in Vienna’s Stammersdorf district measured 41 °C, shattering Austria’s previous national high of 40.5 °C recorded on 8 August 2013 at Bad Deutsch‑Altenburg. Earlier in the same heatwave the city logged 40.1 °C, 40.2 °C, 40.8 °C and 40.6 °C at various sites, prompting a red‑level heat alert for Vienna and large parts of the country.
The extreme temperatures strained public life: river traffic on the Danube largely halted, businesses reported few customers, and health officials warned of heat‑related illness. To mitigate the impact, the city expanded its network of “Cool Zones” – shaded parks, drinking fountains, misting stations and air‑conditioned public buildings – and urged residents to stay indoors during the hottest hours.
Meteorologists linked the record heat to climate change, noting a severe precipitation deficit of up to 90 % in some Austrian regions and a longer, drier summer than usual. Neighboring countries such as the Czech Republic and Hungary also experienced record‑high temperatures during the same period.
Entities: Austria · Cool Zones (Vienna) · Danube River · GeoSphere Austria · Langenlebarn · Norbert Totschnig · Stammersdorf · Stammersdorf weather station · Vienna · Weather and Environmental Warning Center (UWZ)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The heatwave halted most Danube river traffic near Vienna. (Local news agencies)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Vienna created a network of publicly accessible “Cool zones” to provide relief from the heat. (City of Vienna)
- [● 3 SOURCES] A red alert was issued for Vienna and parts of Lower Austria and Burgenland due to the heatwave. (Austrian authorities)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The previous Austrian national temperature record was 40.5 °C recorded on 8 August 2013 at Bad Deutsch‑Altenburg. (GeoSphere Austria)
- [● 3 SOURCES] GeoSphere Austria confirmed the new 41 °C record. (GeoSphere Austria)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Precipitation deficits of up to 90 % were recorded in parts of Austria during the heatwave. (GeoSphere Austria)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Vienna’s Stammersdorf station recorded 41.0 °C on 4 August 2026. (GeoSphere Austria)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Farmers reported difficulty feeding livestock because of dry pastures. (Austrian Agriculture Minister)
- [● 2 SOURCES] A red‑level heat alert was issued for Vienna and large parts of Austria during the heatwave. (GeoSphere Austria)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Vienna recorded temperatures of 40.1 °C, 40.2 °C, 40.6 °C and 40.8 °C earlier in the same heatwave. (Geosphere Austria)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Neighboring countries such as the Czech Republic and Hungary also experienced record‑high temperatures during the same period. (GeoSphere Austria)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The previous Austrian national temperature record was 40.5 °C set on 8 August 2013 at Bad Deutsch‑Altenburg. (Geosphere Austria)