Austria records highest temperature ever

Austria said on Thursday that it had registered the highest temperature ever recorded in the country, as a broader heatwave pushed temperatures higher across central and southern Europe. GeoSphere Austria said the mercury reached 41.2 degrees Celsius in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, an eastern town near the Slovak border, surpassing the previous national high of 41.0C set on Tuesday in Vienna. Italy, meanwhile, placed all 27 of its monitored major cities under red alert, while Hungary extended energy-saving steps after authorities warned of pressure on electricity supplies and water resources. ### Where was Austria’s new record set? Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, in eastern Austria near the border with Slovakia, recorded 41.2C on Wednesday, according to GeoSphere Austria as reported by Reuters and other outlets. The previous national record had already been broken a day earlier when Vienna reached 41.0C, itself above the earlier benchmark of 40.8C reported this week. (usnews.com) Austria’s earlier long-standing record had been 40.5C, set on August 8, 2013, at the same eastern location of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, according to reports citing the national weather agency. That means the country’s all-time mark was broken more than once in the same week as the heat intensified. ### How broad is the heatwave beyond Austria? (usnews.com) Italy put all 27 major cities monitored by the Health Ministry on the highest heat alert level on Thursday, a step ANSA said happened for the first time. AP and ABC reported temperatures near or above 40C in parts of the country as the heat spread across the region. (bssnews.net) France was also dealing with wildfires and transport disruption, while Slovakia set its own temperature record during the same spell of extreme heat, according to AFP and AP reports. Those reports linked the conditions to a wider central European heat event rather than an isolated Austrian spike. (ansa.it) ### Why did Hungary move to cut power use? Hungary asked companies and households to reduce electricity use this week after drought and extreme heat increased strain on the grid, according to Reuters reporting. Separate Reuters coverage said Budapest switched off decorative lighting on landmarks including Parliament, Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge to save energy during the heatwave. (france24.com) Reuters also reported that unusually low Danube water levels had worsened the energy squeeze in Hungary, where the government had already appealed for conservation. In practice, the heat story has become an infrastructure story as well, affecting power demand, river levels and transport. (msn.com) ### Is this still developing? Thursday’s alerts and record confirmations show the episode was still unfolding on August 6. Italy’s red-alert notices remained in force for major cities that day, and reporting from Austria and neighboring countries indicated temperatures had been setting or threatening records on consecutive days. (msn.com) The next concrete markers will come from national weather agencies and civil protection authorities, including GeoSphere Austria and Italy’s Health Ministry, which are issuing updated readings and heat alerts as the heatwave continues. (wam.ae) (ansa.it)